The challenge
How would a foldable space frame have to be designed that can be prefabricated and premounted in shop which only would have to be unfolded on site?
The invention
The RES-Foldables are geometrically based on three grids with square meshes. One grid is composed of nodes and bars linked up to each other by hinged connections of tongue and fork type. Introducing two levels to the grid arranging the nodes alternatingly in an upper and a lower level, the grid becomes a kinetic structure that can be transferred into a vertical bundle of bars. For the construction of a wide-span space frame e.g. three grids of this type are needed, two of them completely unfolded forming the layers of upper and lower chords while the third one is only partly unfolded to keep the layers in a distance to one another and to rigidly connect them.
The advantages
- Provision of a foldable space frame
- Suitable for lightweight composite structure
- Quick assembly
The applications
- Building kit for exhibitions,...
- Wide-span steel structure
- Special use for hollow ceilings