Modular steel lamella roofs by Hugo Junkers A lightweight structure from the 1920s

Abstract

<p>In the mid-1920s, the German engineer Hugo Junkers (1859-1935) designed an innovative roof construction that is regarded a milestone in the development of lightweight structures. A rhomboid framework of slender steel elements forms a barrel vault that covers a span of up to 50 meters. More than 200 of these roofs – and associated patents – have been commercialized and built all over the world. Unfortunately, most of them do not exist anymore or are in bad condition.</p><p>Figure 1. Inner view of hangar with Junkers roof in northern Munich (Tutsch, 2013)</p><p>This paper describes the historical steps of the technical development of the construction (in Chapter 1). The framework is designed along strict geometric rules, which in turn have a large influence on the load-bearing behaviour. Both geometry and structure are systematically analysed (in Chapter 2 and 3).</p><p>Finally, an example of the investigations and the analysis of a hangar from 1934 (Fig. 1) in northern Munich is presented (in Chapter 4).</p>