Why do we generally use steel to cover space?

Don’t always….but specification is:

• Generally less onerous fire and acoustic performance

• Good bending strength to weight ratio

• Easily prefabricated and transported  speedy erection

• Is durable in an enclosed envelope or arid environment

• Connects easily

Be mindful that steel:

• Can buckle in extreme heat (eg. a fire) – may need fire

protection and/or redundancy.

• Exposed in non-arid environments can only be protected

for about 10-15yrs before repainting is needed, or about
25 years for galvanised steel.
Cargolifter Airship Hangar, Brand, Germany
Client and Architect: Siat Bauplanung Ingenieurleistungen GmbH & Co OHG
• Is not a good
Award: Institution solution in aggressive
of Structural Engineers environments
Structural Achievement Award 2001 eg
coastal
Capitalareas or 000
Cost: £41 000 indoor swimming pools
Completed 2001
Structural engineering design of a giant 363m x 210m hangar rising to a height of 107m to house two cargo airships, capable of transporting up to 160
• Has a high embodied energy
tonnes over long distances. The interior is completely column-free and the hangar has fully retractable doors. 300+ staff are housed in facilities, offices
and laboratories in the two storey high buttresses along each side of the production floor at the base hangar. It has won the Institution of Structural
2 / 161 Engineers' structural achievement award for 2001, and also European Steel Award 2001 as an outstanding steel structure
Greg Killen
ARCH3120 March 10
GSA Demonstration – 25m Steel Roof
• Axial capacity of trusses more
efficient
1.3
• End continuity helpful – especially
for deflections
• Arches not great for non-uniform ?
loads
• Portal frame cheaper per tonne to
•
manufactureClick to edit Master subtitle style 1.6

• Trusses cheapest
1.3
(must add cladding and extra
lateral load costs)
1.0
• S/D = 10 good starting point