Space frames are truss-like, lightweight rigid structures constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. They are used to span large areas with few interior supports by distributing loads through a three dimensional structure without intermediate columns. Space frames can be made from steel or timber and come in various types including barrel vaults, spherical domes, and single or double layer grids classified by their curvature and element arrangement.

1. SPACE FRAMES

2. SPACE FRAMES

3. SPACE FRAMES • ARE TRUSS-LIKE, LIGHTWEIGHT
RIGID STRUCTURE CONSTRUCTED
FROM INTERLOCKING STRUTS IN A
GEOMETRIC PATTERN
• SPACE FRAMES ARE USED TO SPAN
LARGE AREAS WITH FEW INTERIOR
SUPPORTS

4. SPACE FRAMES
• A THREE DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE.
• ARRANGED TO TRANSFER THE LOAD.
• NO INTERMEDIATE COLUMNS

5. HISTORY OF SPACE FRAME
➢ ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL AROUND
1900
➢ BUCKMINSTER FULLER IN THE 1950s.
➢ 1960s - CALIFORNIA DURING
➢ INTRODUCED TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN
MARKET IN 1982

6. MATERIALS
STEEL:
• SUSTAIN MORE LOAD
• CARRY TONS OF WEIGHT.
• MOSTLY USED IN LONG SPAN
STRUCTURES
• TO BE MAINTAINED PROPERY.
TIMBER:
• USED IN THE 19th CENTURY
• MAINTANIANCE LEVEL IS
BECOMES VERY HIGH

7. LOAD DISTRIBUTION
• HORIZONTAL SLAB; INTERLOCKING
SQUARE PYRAMIDS; TETRAHEDRA
• USED TO SPAN LARGE AREAS WITH
FEW INTERIOR SUPPORTS.
• STRONG
• FLEXING LOADS (BENDING
MOMENTS)

8. STRUCTURAL BACKGROUND
➢ RIGIDITY OF THE TRIANGLE
➢ COMPOSED OF LINEAR ELEMENTS
➢ AXIAL TENSION OR COMPRESSION

9. LIMITATIONS
• Geometric pattern.
• Used for a platform or overhead structure
• Advantageous
• Grid layers.
• Welding, bolting, or threading.
• Construction methods of erection;
• Scaffold method,
• Block assembly method,
• Lift-up method.

10. CURVATURE CLASSIFICATION
SPACE PLANE COVERS:
• COMPOSED OF PLANAR
SUBSTRUCTURES.
• DEFLECTIONS
• SHEAR FORCES
TYPES OF SPACEFRAME

11. TYPES OF SPACEFRAME
CURVATURE CLASSIFICATION
BARREL VAULTS:
•SIMPLE ARCH.
•DOES NOT NEED TO USE
TETRAHEDRAL MODULES/
PYRAMIDS

12. TYPES OF SPACEFRAME
CURVATURE CLASSIFICATION
SPHERICAL DOMES:
•USE OF TETRAHEDRAL MODULES
OR PYRAMIDS
•ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM A
SKIN.

13. TYPES OF SPACEFRAME
CLASSIFICATION BY THE
ARRANGMENT OF ITS ELEMENTS
SINGLE LAYER GRID:
• ALL ELEMENTS ARE LOCATED ON
THE SURFACE APPROXIMATELY.

14. CLASSIFICATION BY THE
ARRANGMENT OF ITS ELEMENTS
DOUBLE LAYER GRID :
• COMMONLY USED
• TWO PARALLEL LAYERS
• FORM A LATTICE OF TRIANGLES,
SQUARES OR HEXAGONS
TYPES OF SPACEFRAME

15. CLASSIFICATION BY THE
ARRANGMENT OF ITS ELEMENTS
TRIPLE LAYER GRID :
• THREE PARALLEL LAYERS, LINKED
BY THE DIAGONALS.
• ALMOST ALWAYS FLAT.
• LARGER SPAN BUILDING
TYPES OF SPACEFRAME

16. SPACE FRAME MATERIALS
CIRCULAR STEEL SECTIONS RECTANGULAR STEEL SECTIONS

17. DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CONNECTORS ARE:
NODUS CONNECTOR
• Accept both rectangular and
circular hollow sections
• Cladding can be fixed directly
to the chords.
• Chord connectors have to be
welded
DESIGN METHODS
MEMBERS ARE FIXED USING CONNECTORS

18. DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CONNECTORS ARE:
TRIODETIC CONNECTOR
• Consists of a hub, usually
an aluminum extrusion,
with slots or key ways.
DESIGN METHODS
MEMBERS ARE FIXED USING CONNECTORS

19. DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CONNECTORS ARE:
TUBALL NODE CONNECTOR
• made of spheroidal
graphite.
• welding Connection
DESIGN METHODS
MEMBERS ARE FIXED USING CONNECTORS

20. DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CONNECTORS ARE:
HEMISPHERICAL DOME
CONNECTOR
• domes.
• span more than 40m.
• economical
• joint fin.
• pentagonal joint/
hexagonal joint.
DESIGN METHODS
MEMBERS ARE FIXED USING CONNECTORS

21. THE METHOD CHOSEN FOR ERECTION OF A SPACE
FRAME DEPENDS ON:
• ITS BEHAVIOR OF LOAD TRANSMISSION
• CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS, SO THAT IT WILL
MEET THE OVER ALL REQUIREMENTS OF QUALITY,
SAFETY, SPEED OF CONSTRUCTION AND
ECONOMY
• THE SCALE OF THE STRUCTURE BEING BUILT,THE
METHOD OF JOINTING THE INDIVIDUAL
ELEMENTS, AND THE STRENGTH AND RIGIDITY OF
THE SPACE FRAME UNTIL ITS FORM IS CLOSED
MUST ALL BE CONSIDERED.
SPACE FRAME METHOD OF ERECTION

22. SPACE FRAME METHOD OF ERECTION
JOINTS
• IN A SPACE FRAME, CONNECTING
JOINTS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE,
BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND AESTHETIC,
WHICH DERIVES FROM THEIR
RATIONALITY DURING
CONSTRUCTION AND AFTER
COMPLETION.
• SINCE JOINTS HAVE A DECISIVE
EFFECT ON THE STRENGTH AND
STIFFNESS OF THE STRUCTURE AND
COMPOSE AROUND 20 TO 30
PERCENT OF THE TOTAL WEIGHT,
JOINT DESIGN IS CRITICAL TO SPACE
FRAME ECONOMY AND SAFETY .
MEMBER
• MEMBERS ARE AXIAL ELEMENTS
WITH CIRCULAR OR RECTANGULAR
SECTIONS, ALL MEMBERS CAN ONLY
RESIST TENSION OR COMPRESSION.
• THE SPACE GRID IS BUILT OF
RELATIVELY LONG TENSION
MEMBERS AND SHORT
COMPRESSION MEMBERS.
• A TREND IS VERY NOTICEABLE IN
WHICH THE STRUCTURAL MEMBERS
ARE LEFT EXPOSED AS A PART OF
THE ARCHITECTURAL EXPRESSION

23. ADVANTAGES OF SPACE FRAMES
• Light.
• Elegant & Economical.
• Carry load by three dimensional action.
• High Inherent Stiffness.
• Easy to construct.
• Save Construction Time & Cost.
• Services (such as lighting and air
conditioning) can be integrated with
space frames.
• Offer the architect unrestricted
freedom in locating supports and
planning the subdivision of the covered
space.
• Durable materials & protective finishes.
• Construction is simple, safe and fast.
• No Site Painting or Welding.
DISADVANTAGES SPACE FRAMES
• One major disadvantage is that they
can be difficult to engineer.
• It's not straightforward to determine
how forces will distribute throughout a
structure that has a lot of redundant
pieces.

24. SPACE FRAME STRUCTURES
EXAMPLES

25. Lynx Central Station, Orlando, FL

26. Ft Lauderdale Amphitheater

27. Halsell Conservatory, San Antonio, TX

28. Hall of Nation Pragati Maidan