GREAT SIZE UMBRELLAS SOLVED WITH EXPANDABLE BAR STRUCTURES

ESCRIG, F.* and P. VALCARCEL, J.**

*Head of The Department of Structures of School of Architecture (Sevilla)
**Head of The Department of Structures of School of Architecture (La Coruña)
SUMMARY
After introducing several basical concepts on Expandable Bar Structures and
defining the patterns than can be used, a surveying on their applications as
roofing is carried out. We propose expandable umbrellas which should be able
for architectural purposes and discuses their constructional problems and
analysis.

INTRODUCTION

Fi g. I Fig. 3. Fig. 4
In a number of papers already published
il] ,[2J,[3J and [4], we have system-
0;:' l.
atized and defined the geometry of four
basical patterns that, conveniently
engaged, give tridimensional expandable
assemblies that may work as structures
by means of proper mechanic devices.
These basical oatterns are shown in
Figs. I throgh' 4 where bars are able
to achieve several movable configur-
ations (Fiqs. 5 and 6) and therefore
occupy more or less surface volume.
Something symilar will happen to the
1 J
arrangements built with these patterns.
For instance in Figs. 7 through 9 we
see different states for the same struc
Fi g. 5 ture assembled with several regular -
prisms like shown in Fig. 4.
..

Fi g. 7 Fig. 8 Fi g. 9

The patterns shown above may be warped and give rise to irregular units to achieve
other complex spatial configurations. To this, some compatibility conditions be-
tween length of each strut of the whole ha ve to be satisfied. Figs. 10 and 11 show
two of these structures in folded and expanded positions.

Fi g. 10

Fi g. 11

APPLICATIONS
In this paper we propose architectural solutions that, using the geometrical prop-
erties already explained, are able to cover open spaces eventually.
Umbrellas with only a central mast provide a good option to be folded or expanded
easily with mechanisms contained in them.
 Fig. 15 Fi g. 16 ~ Fig. 17
Fig.

If we use regular patterns as defined in Figs. 1 through 4 we can obtain structures

like those shown in Figs. 14 through 17, with the same kind of bondary or another,
provided that support is placed upon the gravity center of the whole.

Fig 18, Fig. 19

These plane assemblies, if correctly fixed to the supporting mast where folding
mechanism is placed, may be able to act as roofs. For that purpose the structure
must be completed with a textil fabric to bring waterfroofing, protection and
strength. Such a roofing material will improve the structural behavior, col labor-
ating in tension either by itself or reinforced with cables as shown in Figs. 18
and 19. Obviously when these cables act in compression will not be considered in
the analysis.

Fig. 20 Fiq. 21
•

Planar roofs will encounter difficulties with drainage and therefore their use
will be restricted. Nevertheless they could be suitable as sun shelters.
Figs. 20 and 21 show an application to cover a square of Sévilla. Hexagonal urn-
brellas with a 10 rn. edge were designed. To lighten the structure, sensors could
be placed to swich on folding when the wind speed was higher than considered in
the analysis. Fig 22 shows an hexagonal urnbrella as described.

Fig. 22 Fig. 23 Fig. 24

To prevent drainage slopes it is necessary to use leaned planes wich can be solved
by rneans of irre~ular patterns as shown in Figs. 23 and 24.
With only three different strut lengths we rnay achieve sorne faceted surfaces with
inward or outward drainaqe ( Figs. 25 through 27) ..
To irnprove structural behavior it rnay be convinient the use of brakets to dirninish
cantilever lenght (Fig. 28).

Fig. 25 Fig. 26 Fig. 27

•

Fig. 28

Fig. 29

CONSTRUCTION
The major constructional problems to be sol ved are the design of movable joints
and the mechanical devices of folding and expanding~
Among other tentative solutions for joint design we have selected a simple and
useful one, which should be able to ensemble any number of bars with any kind of
motion (Fig 29).
Crossing connections are solved with a bold when two bars are connected (Fig. 30)
or with a ring when there are three or more bars (Fig 31).
With respect to folding or expanding mechanisms the simplest are those which take
advantage of their own weight as expanding force while folding is achieved by
cables tensed by manual or mechanical devices as shown in Fig. 32.

FORCES FOlDlNG THE STRUCTURE

POINT A GOES UP WHEN (MECHANICAl ACTlONS)
THE STRUCTURE FOlDS
AND GOES DOWN WHEN
Fi g", 30 THE STRUCTURE EXPANDS Fig. 32

TABLE 1.
Umbrella Fia.34 Fig.35 Fig.36 Fig.37 Fig.38 Fiq.39
Maximal de- 29 mm. 78 mm. 400 nrn. 68 mm. 41 mm. 100 mm.
flection in

Fi 9 31.
"

,.

ANALYSYS
These structures work in a very different way than other articulated structures
because bending moments and shear stresses are of great impbrtance in most cases.
Struts have at less two supported ends and a central point of crossing. This im-
plies that both stretches of a bar, at every side of the crossing point, are con-
tinuous. However the bars are articulated between them. Bending and shear stresses
will be considered clase to axial stresses.
To analyze these structures, a computer program has been designed with several
advantages over other conventional programs, devised to analyze general stresses
in articulated structures. The program is described in Reference L 5J . We have used
it to compare six umbrella designs with the same plane projection, similar el-
lements or loads and different height profiles (Figs. 33 through 38). Compressed
cables have been removed.
Only for comparison of umbrella behavior we include in Table 1 the maximal deflec-
tions. Inward slope umbrellas are better than plane ones and outward slope um-
brellas are the worst.

Fig. 39

REFERENCES
[1] ESCRIG, F. "Expanclable Space Frame Structures". Third International Conference
on Space Structures. Proceedings. Surrey 1984. Elsevier. pp. 845-850.
[21 ESCRIG, F. "Estructuras espaciales de barras desplegables ll • Informes de la
Construcción. IET. Vol 36, n0365. pp. 35-46.
[3] ESCRIG, F. "Expancable Space Structures". Space Structures International JOl!r-
nal. Vol 1, n02. Elsevier. pp 79-91.
[41 ESCRIG, F. and P. VALCARCEL, J. "Introducción a la geometría de las estructu-
ras espaciales desplegables de barras". Boletín Académico de la ET5A de La
Coruña. n03, Feb. 1986.
[5] ESCRIG,F. and P. VALCARCEL, J. "Analysis of Expandable Space Bar Structures".
Int. Symposium on Membrane Structures and Space Frames. IASS. Osaka. 1986.