A brief history about the evolution of large span structures

A Brief History About The Evolution Of Large Span Structures

Over the past decade, there has been a significant growth in the trend of constructing longer column free spaces for maximum space utilization and great flexibility with the interiors. Commonly referred to as the large space structure, these colossal units have proved helpful in not only overcoming various constructional challenges but also satisfying complex design needs.

Most importantly, these structures help in reducing the construction cost and time by a considerable margin.

However, the development of long span structures did not happen overnight as many people believe. Rather this innovative concept was derived from various ancient structures which despite their huge size and massive weight,

had managed to remain standing for centuries. The domes and vaults that formed an almost integral part of Roman building construction were perhaps the first structures that inspired the idea of developing something similar with lighter materials to handle unbalanced loads caused by various factors.

The initial long span structure was developed as early as the first decade of the previous century, by none other than Alexander Graham Bell himself. He was even responsible for using the space frames for building a watch tower I Canada in 1907. The said building, which was 28 m high, weighed less than 5 ton thanks to the extremely robust and lightweight 3D tetrahedral units that were used in its construction. However, it was not till 1943 that these structures were used in public construction.

In the succeeding years, numerous developments were made in the designs of these structures and the trend was further fuelled by the computer revolution that helped massive technological advances during the last three decades of the 20th century. This resulted in the development of space frames to be used in large span structures, which were not only much lighter in weight but also offered greater flexibility and durability as compared to their predecessors.

The use of highly efficient structure analysis software to analyze the sustainability of space frames in complex structure designs played a major role in these developments.

Today, large span structures are revolutionizing the construction industry by enables engineers and architects to greater flexibility in terms of planning and designing. From aircraft hangers, to the roofs of stadiums or even large community centers, malls and other buildings, long span structures are making their presence felt in every aspect of modern infrastructure. These structures are not only constructed to last long but also to provide an attractive look and appeal despite the complexity of their design. This is in fact the biggest reason for the growing popularity of long span structures.