ADVANCED STRUCTURES

FOLDED PLATES
WHAT ARE FOLDED PLATES?
Folded plates are assemblies of flat plates rigidly connected together along their edges in
such a way that the structural system capable of carrying loads without the need for
additionally supporting beams along mutual edges.

FOLDING SYSTEMS IN NATURE:

Folded structural system are analogues to several biological systems such as leaf of a palm
tree, petals and foldable insect wings, are adopted to be employed in a new technical way.

THE STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FOLDED PLATES DEPEND ON:

The pattern of folding
Their geometrical basic shape.
Its material
The connection of the different folding planes.

THE STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOUR OF FOLDING

LOAD DISTRIBUTION PROCESS:

 At first the external loads are transferred to the shorter edge of one folding element
 There, the reaction as an axial force is divided between the adjacent elements.
 Then the forces are transferred to the bearings.

TYPES OF FOLDED PLATES

1. BASED ON MATERIAL:
 Folded structures made of reinforced concrete.
 Metal folded structures.
 Folded structures of wood.
 Folded structures of glass.
 Folded structures of plastic materials.
 Folded structures made in combinations of different materials.
2. BASED ON GEOMETRIC SHAPES:
 Folded plate surface structures-
-prismatic: rectangular plates.
 -pyramidal: non rectangular plates.
-prismodial: triangular or trapezoidal plates.
 Folded plate frame structures.
 Spatial folded plate structures.
 tapered folded plates.
 Folded plate truss.
 Three segmental folded plates.

APPLICATIOONS OF FOLDED PLATES:

 As roof structure: EX-Miami Marine stadium, Florida.

 As wall structure: EX-Church of Notre Dame de Royan, France.
 As floor structure: Mezzanine ceiling called “kielsteg”
 As steel sheet piles: Securing the foundation pit with Larsen Planks.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FOLDED PLATES:

ADVANTAGES:

 Very light form of construction. To span 30m shell thickness required is 60mm only.
 The use of concrete as a building material reduces both materials cost and a construction
cost.
 Large span can be provided uninterruptedly.
 Aesthetically is looks good over other forms of construction.

DISADVANTAGES:

 Shuttering is difficult.
 Greater accuracy in formwork is required.
 Good labor and supervision is necessary.
 Rise of roof may be a disadvantage.

Construction process graphically:

Materials used on model and in live construction: if possible compare the properties of materials in
both cases

Specifications of folded plates: