Red marquis at 12:39, 9 December 2006

2006-12-09T12:39:50Z

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[[Image:SpaceFrame02.png|right|thumb|250px|Simplified space frame roof with the nearest unit polygon hightlighted in blue]]
A '''space frame''' is a [[truss]]-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a [[geometry|geometric]] [[pattern]]. Space frames usually utilize a multidirectional span, and are often used to accomplish long spans with few supports. They derive their strength from the inherent rigidity of the triangular frame; flexing [[load]]s (bending [[moment (physics)|moments]]) are transmitted as [[tension (mechanics)|tension]] and [[physical compression|compression]] loads along the length of each strut.

Most often their geometry is based on [[platonic solid]]s. The simplest form is a horizontal slab of interlocking square [[pyramid]]s built from [[aluminium]] or [[steel]] [[tube|tubular]] struts. In many ways this looks like the horizontal jib of a tower crane repeated many times to make it wider. A stronger purer form is composed of interlocking [[Tetrahedron|tetrahedral pyramids]] in which all the struts have unit length. More technically this is referred to as an ''isotropic vector matrix'' or in a single unit width an [[octet]] truss. More complex variations change the lengths of the struts to curve the overall structure or may incorporate other geometrical shapes.

Space frames were independently developed by [[Buckminster Fuller]] in the [[1950s]] and [[Alexander Graham Bell]] around [[1900]]. Bell's interest was primarily in using them to make rigid frames for nautical and aeronautical engineering although few if any were realised. Buckminster Fuller's focus was [[architecture|architectural]] structures and has had more lasting influence.

Space frames are an increasingly common architectural technique especially for large roof spans in [[modernism|modernist]] commercial and industrial buildings.

Notable examples of buildings based on space frames are:
*the [[airport]]s of [[Foster and Partners|Foster Associates]], for example [http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/Stansted%20aiport/ Stansted Airport]
*[[I. M. Pei]]'s entrance [[Louvre Pyramid]].
*the roof of the [[Rogers Centre]] by [[Rod Robbie]] and [[Michael Allan]]
*the roof of [[McCormick Place]] East in [[Chicago]]
*the [[Eden Project]] in Cornwall, England
*the [[Biosphere 2]] in Oracle, Arizona

Larger portable stages and lighting [[Crane (machine)#Gantry crane|gantries]] are also frequently built from space frames and octet trusses.

Tubular space frames are also widely used in the production of modern [[motorcycles]] and [[automobiles]] (and [[NASCAR]] race cars are exclusively built from spaceframe construction), but [[monocoque]] car bodies have been more common since the 1950s.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Mero_Knoten_Grafik.jpg|Computer Animation of a [[MERO]] Space Frame Node.
Image:LibeskindSpaceFrameTower.jpg|Looking up through the space frame structure which supports the ''Air Shard'' tower at the entrance to [[Daniel Libeskind]]'s [[Imperial War Museum North]].
Image:Wfm stansted.jpg|The space frame roof at [[Stansted Airport]].
Image:Al Ain Stadium.jpg|A new [[MERO]] space frame roof for the Stadium in Al Ain; VAE. Covered with Membrane.
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Platonic solid]]s

[[Category:Building engineering]]
[[Category:Buckminster Fuller]]
[[Category:Structural engineering]]

[[de:Gitterrahmen]]
[[eo:Frama strukturo]]

Spaceframe - Revision history

Red marquis at 12:39, 9 December 2006