Morphological and Mechanical Investigation of Interconnected Elastic Gridshells. Issue 3 (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jensen, Tim-Joachim; Baverel, Olivier; Douthe, Cyril
• Is Part Of: International journal of space structures. Volume 28:Issue 3/4(2013)
• Page Start: 175
• Page End: 186
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: Space frame structures -- Periodicals; Space (Architecture) -- Periodicals; Space (Architecture); Space frame structures; Periodicals; 624.177
• DOI: 10.1260/0266-3511.28.3-4.175
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-0599

Abstract

This paper describes the structural reinforcement of elastic gridshells by interconnecting several gridshells together. Reference for the present investigation is taken from the composite (GFRP) gridshell structure built for the Forum of the Solidays music festival in Paris in 2011. The principle of interconnection is illustrated with various structures which are generated using numerical toolbox developed by the laboratory for the automatic meshing of free-forms structures on Rhino. Then the effect of the interconnection on the structural behaviour is briefly discussed based on elementary loading cases. Finally, the feasibility of the concept as well as its architectural and morphological potential is show by the construction of a double gridshell prototype. The authors conclude on the possible future developments of such morphologies which could give interesting and unexpected architectures.