To Cover A Swimming Pool with an

Expandable Structure
F. Escrig(*), J.P. Valcárcel(**)
(*) School 01 Architecture 01 Seville (Spain)
(**) School 01 Architecture 01 La Coruña (Spain)
ABSTRACT

Expandable Space Structures based on X-frames will be of great use in solv-

ing special problems like movable Architecture.

In this case we must provide a cover on a swirnming-pool for bioclimatic

profiting. This means that we need to e1iminate the cover for variable peri-
ods of time as well as extend it. The area covered is of 3.000 sqm. with a
section of sphere that runs hanging below a spatial arch and folds at the topo

1. INTRODUCTION

The question to be solved is how to cover a swimmirng pool of great size (50
X 21 sqm) with a structure able to be removed in the summer and erected
temporarily during other seasons to capture solar energy to heat the air and
the water.

To achieve this we provide an Expandable structure of bars based on mov-

able X-frames in accordance with the model developed by authors [Ref. 1].

Expandable X-frames are mechanisms capable of showing different geomet-

rical configurations from minima when they are folded to great surfaces and
when they are expanded. In both limit states they can be irnmobilized by
means of the blockage of sorne elements to guarantee the global stiffness of
the whole and we can achieve structures useful to building transformable
architecture.

Figure 1 shows how a set of 3-X-frames works while Figure 2 shows the
foldability of a multiple X-frame.
274 Rapidly Assembled Structures

Figure 1

Figure 2

2. FORMAL PROPOSAL

To satisfy our need for a completely removable cover we propose a spherical

shell section 60 meters in diameter and 15 meters in height. This solution
has sorne important advantages:
 Rapidly Assembled Structures 275

a) The ratio between surfare enclosure and covered area is mínimum.

b) Roof and walls are included into the same geometry.

c) It admits a well studied expandable X-frame.

There are a lot of spherical expandable X-frames to be used, out oí which

we select a triangular spherical grid according to the authors in [Ref. 2].

This spacial frame will be supported along its boundaries when expanded
and will be hung from a central point of a main arch when folded or during
the folding process.

3. DESIGN AND GEOMETRY OF GLOBAL X-FRAME

The basic grid will be obtained from a triangular three way plane mesh
plared at ground level by projecting it on the sphere surfare from its far-
thest pole (Figure 3).

15 (n.

Figure 3

6Om.

Figure 4 shows the grid in this way.

276 Rapidly Assembled Structures

Figure 4

Table 1 shows coordinates of its nodes.

TABLE 1: COORDINATE OF A THREE WAY SPHERICAL GRID

COORDINATES (AIeters) COORDINATES (neters)

POINTS X y Z POINTS X y Z

Pll 30.000 0.000 0.000 P32 20.064 4.96lo 8.790

P12 28.286 4.454 1.714 P33 17.308 9.992 9.231
P13 26.163 9.063 2.791 P34 14.331 14.893 8.790
P14 23.684 13.674 3.158 P35 11.250 19.485 7.500
P15 20.930 18.126 2.791 P41 17.6lo7 0.000 10.588
P16 18.000 22.269 1.715 P42 14.901 5,162 11.523
P17 15.000 25.980 0.000 P43 11.921 10.323 11.523
P21 26.627 0.000 3.905 P44 8.824 15.282 10.588
P22 24.545 4.724 5.455 P51 12.162 0.000 12.973
P23 22.086 9.563 6.258 P52 9.184 5.302 13.469
P24 19.325 14.345 6.258 P53 6.081 10.532 12.973
P25 16.36/0 18.895 5.455 P61 6.207 0.000 14.483
P26 13.314 23.059 3.906 P62 3.103 5.375 14.483
P31 22.500 0.000 7.500 P71 0.000 0.000 15.000
 Rapidly Assembled Structures 277

Into thia spherical grid (D) we must now superimpose an expandable frame.
To this we must solve the next system of equations (Figure 5) where (ti are
known for each line of triangular spherlcal three way grid.

Q;i-2=,8i-2+Q;i-l
Q;i-l=,8i-l+,8i
Q;i=,8i+,Bi-l
Q;i+l=,8i+l+,Bi+2

In general this system is not compatible because it contains more equations

than variables. Nevertheless we can optimize the solution to obtain accept-
able tolerances to make the work of the structure possible.

Grids projected from a pole are the best for our purpose.

By fixing now the angle "{j" for maximum expandability we can determine
the frame (AB) that achieves the necessary conditions to guarantee the
kinematic compatibility in the folded and completely expanded positions.

Unfortunately the compatibility in intermediate positions is not assured and

in most cases we must force the structure to pass through. Nevertheless with
little imposed defiectioDS it can work in the complete range.

Figure 6 shows the whole grid obtained with a é= 0'15. Table II shows
lengths oí the bars. Figures 7 and 8 give information on criteria used to
identify each bar position.
278 Rapidly Assembled Structures

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

6
 Rapidly Assembled Structures 279

TABLE 11: LENGTHS OF A THREE WAY SPHERICAL X-FRAME

ELE" 017 027 073 074 038 048 085 086 019 029 095 096
E61 3.2121 3.1319 3.1895 3.1105 3.1895 3.1104 3.1895 3.1104 3.2120 3.1318 3.1895 3.1104
E51 3.1892 3.1102 3.1236 3.0477 3.1238 3.0479 3.1479 3.0679 3.1894 3.1103 3.1451 3.0681
E52 3.1895 3.1104 3.1452 3.0682 3.1449 3.0679 3.1238 3.0480 3.1892 3.1101 3.1235 3.0478
E41 3.1230 3.0471 3.0195 2.9485 3.0201 2.9492 3.0597 2.9868 3.1235 3.0477 3.0601 2.9872
E42 3.1447 3.0677 3.0604 2.9875 3.0603 2.9875 3.0603 2.9875 3.1447 3.0677 3.0603 2.9875
E43 3.1236 3.0478 3.0601 2.9873 3.0597 2.9868 3.0201 2.9493 3.1229 3.0471 3.0195 2.9487
E31 3.0186 2.9477 2.8849 2.8200 2.8860 2.8211 2.9404 2.8730 3.0197 2.9487 2.9408 2.8734
E32 3.0593 2.9865 2.9414 2.8740 2.9423 2.8749 2.9594 2.8912 3.0603 2.9874 2.9597 2.8915
E33 3.0603 2.9875 2.9598 2.9815 2.9594 2.8912 2.9423 2.8750 3.0593 2.9864 2.9413 2.8740
E34 3.1097 2.9489 2.9409 2.8736 2.9404 2.8731 2.8860 2.8214 3.0186 2.9478 2.8849 2.8203
E21 2.8839 2.8191 2.7285 2.6704 2.7299 2.6718 2.7952 2.7342 2.8854 2.8205 2.7956 2.7346
E22 2.9399 2.8725 2.7962 2.7352 2.7976 2.7366 2.8299 2.7674 2.9413 2.8739 2.8302 2.7678
E23 2.9592 2.9809 2.8313 2.7688 2.8312 2.7687 2.8312 2.7687 2.9591 2.8908 2.8312 2.7687
E24 2.9414 2.8741 2.8303 2.7678 2.8299 2.7674 2.7976 2.7368 2.9399 2.8726 2.7962 2.7353
E25 2.8855 2.8209 2.7957 2.7348 2.7952 2.7344 2.7299 2.6722 2.8839 2.8193 2.n88 2.6707
El1 2.7277 2.6696 2.5588 2.5076 2.56D4 2.5092 2.6331 2.5789 2.7294 2.6713 2.6330 2.5788
.
E12 2.7948 2.7338 2.6335 2.5793 2.6351 2.5809 2.6796 2.6235 2.7965 2.7355 2.6795 2.6234
E13 2.8296 2.7671 2.6806 2.6245 2.6822 2.6261 2.6952 2.6384 2.8312 2.7687 2.6951 2.6383
E14 2.8312 2.7687 2.6952 2.6384 2.6952 2.6384 2.6822 2.6262 2.8295 2.7670 2.6806 2.6245
E15 2.7976 2.7357 2.6796 2.6235 2.6796 2.6235 2.6352 2.5812 2.7948 2.7340 2.6335 2.5795
E16 2.7295 2.6718 2.6331 2.5792 2.6331 2.5792 2.5604 2.5097 2.7277 2.6700 2.5587 2.5080

4. KINEMATICS OF THE X-FRAME GRID

To fold and expand the grid, it will be supported by its highest node to a
framed arch that moreover will contain the rod to facilitate the displace-
ment oí the other two nodes. These nodes guarantee the stability oí the
whole.

Figure 9 shows the arch with the mechanism of folding. The expanding is
achieved by forces due to its own weight.
280 Rapidly Assembled Structures

8
 Rapidly Assembled Structures 281

Figure 10 shows details designed for joints and special pieces.

Figure 10

+ 1Ii--C-:::::>-II-'-'
.1
!'
1

.1:.
1;
~e=
:i \

Figure 11 shows the complete strueture folded while Figure 12 shows it ex-
panded.
282 Rapidly Assembled Structures

Figure 11

Figure 12

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research has been achieved with financial support provided by DGI-
CYT (Dirección General de Investigación Cientifica y Tecnológica).

REFERENCES

(1) ESCRIG, F. "Expandable Space Structures", Space Structures Int.

Journ. Vol. 1 numo 2., EIsevier pp 79-91.

(2) ESCRIG, F., P. VALCARCEL and J.R. GIL DELGADO "Design of

Expandable Spherical Grids", IASS Simp. 1989, Madrid, 16pp.