Behavior of a Simple Nexorade or Reciprocal Frame System

Abstract

Among the family of space structures is a typology called nexorades or reciprocal frame structures. Nexorades can have various configurations and shapes. This article focuses on a simple configuration to obtain results that are easy to read and communicate. The aim is to get a better understanding of the structural behavior of nexorades to facilitate their design. Two analytical methods are proposed to calculate the bending resistance and the stiffness of a nexorade. The influence of the connections between members on the structural behavior and the robustness is studied. A comparison is made with flat grids.