Design of an Advanced Composite Material Space Frame System

摘要

Covering over one-third of an acre at Creative Pultrusions, Inc., the proposed design of the largest advanced composite material (ACM) space frame canopy system in the world demonstrates the structural possibilities of ACM as a major building material. The proposed canopy covers an area of 85.5 m (280'-0") x 15.2 m (50'-0") using a 6.1 m (20'-0") column spacing in the 85.5 m (280'-0") direction and 9.16 m (30'0") column spacing with 3.05 m (10'-0") overhangs in the 15.3 m (50'-0") direction. Using standard 152.4 mm (6") channels and 50.8 mm (2") square tubes, the system is designed to support a sustained snow load of 50 psf for a minimum of 3 months. It is also designed to withstand a 20 psf uplift load. This stringent design criteria posed interesting structural problems for the design team. A three dimensional computer model using STAAD3 was developed and evaluated to determine the above structural members. This paper investigates the feasibility of the above design and proposed construction of a prototype space frame bay at Creative Pultrusions, Inc.