A Novel Spatial Scissor-hinge Structural Mechanism for Transformable Roofs

摘要

This paper introduces a novel scissor-hinge structural mechanism (SSM) which is designed as a transformable roof structure. Most of the current deployable SSMs have predefined open and closed body forms; and transformations occurs between these two forms by using one of the various transformation types such as sliding, deploying, and folding. However, the proposed SSM system can transform between rectilinear geometries and double-curved shapes without changing the size of the covered area. In order to achieve such kind of form flexibility, a new primary element called modified scissor-like element (M-SLE) has been developed. In the paper, first, main principles of current SSMs are summarized. Then, primary elements, geometric and kinematic principles of the proposed SSM have been explained. Finally, potential architectural uses of this novel structural mechanism are introduced.