Folded surface structures (FSS) offer a fascinating variety of structural and formal choices which are characterized by efficient use of lightweight materials such as thin flat cardboard, plywood, plastic sheet, or sheet metal for load bearing structures. FSS are particularly suitable for intelligent low-cost buildings – such uses include exhibitions, major events, as well as emergency operations. The properties of foldable umbrella shapes have been examined at the Department for Structural Design and Timber Engineering, Vienna University of Technology (VUT) within the context of a special seminar-workshop with architecture students. This article highlights the determination of shape-geometry and their special characteristics when used in an constructional context (material thickness, joints and bracing). Design and construction of a foldable umbrella prototype-model structure within an educational context demonstrates a practical application. Findings of this work can also be assigned to other shapes of antiprismatic folded surface structures (6-fold pattern).
We present the refurbishment work on a 200-year-old timber structure the principal cupola on top of the main building of the Vienna University of Technology (VUT). Retrofitting plans for this structure included a different use of the space underneath the cupola and leaving the ancient timber construction visible. This called for an examination of the quality of the ancient wood material, the development of modern safety concepts for fire and earthquake incidents within the modified use scenario, additional constructional measures to fulfil the requirements of these new concepts and doing an up-to-date structural analysis following the regulations given by the Eurocodes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.