A New Design Conception for Large Span Deployable Flat Grid Structures

Abstract

The deployable flat grids, consisting of only hinged pantographic units, usually have low structural stiffness, and the bending moment constitutes a great part of internal forces. This results in structural inefficiency, especially for large span grids. Diagonals (web struts) and lower chords are added herein to enhance the structural stiffness. The newly added web struts must be compatible with the deployable geometry. Cables or foldable bars can be used as lower chords. The statical determinacy characteristics are analysed for the newly proposed grid system. On the basis of this concept, several flat grids are firstly developed for potential applications. And a joint conception also developed. The structural performances are investigated for a series of deployable flat grids. Steel quantities and deflections are compared for four different grids. The results indicate that the newly proposed conception has fairly high economic scale, structural efficiency and promising potential application field.