Patent Publication Number: US-8528266-B2

Title: Domed non-steel roof structure

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. National Stage Application claiming priority to PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/AU2011/000282 entitled “A DOMED NON-STEEL ROOF STRUCTURE,” filed 11 Mar. 2011, which claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application Serial No. AU2010901101 entitled “A DOMED NON-STEEL ROOF STRUCTURE,” filed 16 Mar. 2010, both of which are hereby entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a domed non-steel roof structure. 
     The invention has been primarily developed for use in building large industrial, commercial and sporting complexes and will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. However, the invention is not limited to these applications and is also suitable for other non-steel structural and architectural works. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Australian Patent Application No. 2008202183 discloses embodiments of domed non-steel roof structures that are able to withstand far greater loads than conventional roof structures of similar size and produced from similar materials. The disclosed structures can be designed to meet strength and dynamic requirements, whilst reducing the need to increase the material added to the structure to satisfy deflection requirements. The disclosed structures are also lighter and cheaper than existing comparable structures, particularly when foundation savings are taken into account and are also readily adaptable for use in demountable applications. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to improve the assembly of domed non-steel roof structures similar to, but not limited to, those disclosed in Australian Patent Application No. 2008202183. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a domed non-steel roof structure, the roof structure including: 
     a plurality of non-steel, generally rectangular roof members, each of the roof members including:
         an upper surface;   a lower surface;   a pair of first opposed side surfaces diverging from the upper surface to the lower surface;   a pair of second opposed side surfaces diverging from the upper surface to the lower surface;   at least one first passage from one of the pair of the first side surfaces to the other of the pair of the first side surfaces; and   at least one second passage from one of the pair of the second side surfaces to the other of the pair of the second side surfaces;       

     a first cable passing through the first passages in adjacent said roof members; and 
     a second cable passing through the second passages in adjacent said roof members, 
     whereby applying tension to the first cable adjacent the outermost two of the first side surfaces and applying tension to the second cable adjacent the outermost two of the second side surfaces drives the end faces of adjacent said roof members towards each other thereby increasing the angle between adjacent said roof members in a first direction and a second direction, substantially normal to the first direction. 
     The roof members preferably include a pair of first passages and a pair of second passages. Each of the first passages are preferably disposed substantially adjacent each of the second side surfaces and each of the second passages are preferably disposed substantially adjacent each of the first side surfaces. Each of the roof members are preferably curved along the first direction and curved along the second direction. 
     The outer surface of each of the roof members are preferably in the shape of a portion of a dome or sphere. 
     The first passages preferably include a plurality of first cables passing therethrough and the second passages preferably include a plurality of second cables passing therethrough. 
     Each of the roof members in the domed roof structure are preferably substantially identical. 
     The exterior sides of the domed non-steel roof structure preferably include reinforcing truss or beam arrangements. 
     The roof structure preferably includes one or more first hinges between the first side surfaces of adjacent roof members and one or more second hinges between the second side surfaces of adjacent roof members. 
     The non-steel roof members are formed from, or include, any one of: aluminium and other alloys; carbon fibre; plastics; ceramics; timber; or glass. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of a roof member used in the embodiment of the domed non-steel roof structure shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of the initial assembly of a second embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure using four of the roof members shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of the final assembly of the second embodiment of domed non-steel roof structure using four of the roof members shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a third embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure; 
         FIG. 6  is a fourth embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure; 
         FIG. 7  is a fifth embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure; 
         FIG. 8  is a sixth embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure; 
         FIGS. 9   a  to  9   d  are embodiments of external beam configurations of roof members; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic perspective view of the intermediate assembly of a seventh embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic perspective view of a roof member used in an eighth embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure; and 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic perspective view of the eighth embodiment of domed non-steel roof structure shown in  FIG. 11 , with tensile lines of resistance shown for resisting upward loads. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure  10 . The structure  10  is comprised of sixteen non-steel, generally rectangular (or square) roof members  12  arranged in a four by four matrix. The structure  10  can be of any dimension, subject to material considerations. As an example only, the structure  10  is between about 5-25 m long and wide. The non-steel roof members  12  can be formed from, or include, any one of: aluminium and other alloys; carbon fibre; plastics; ceramics; timber; or glass. 
       FIG. 2  shows one of the roof members  12  in isolation. The roof members  12  are all in the shape of a portion or segment of a dome or sphere. The roof member  12  includes an upper surface  14  and a lower surface  16 . A pair of opposed first side surfaces  18   a  and  18   b  are angled with respect to each other to diverge from the upper surface  14  to the lower surface  16 . A pair of opposed second side surfaces  20   a  and  20   b  similarly diverge from the upper surface  14  to the lower surface  16 . As the roof member  12  is rectangular when viewed from above, the pair of first side surfaces  18   a  and  18   b  are orientated substantially normally to the pair of second side surfaces  20   a ,  20   b.    
     The roof member  12  also includes a pair of first passages  22   a  and  22   b  which extend through the roof member  12  from the first side surface  18   a  to the opposed first side surface  18   b . The roof member  12  also includes a similar pair of second passages  24   a  and  24   b  which extend from the second side surface  20   a  to the opposed second side surface  20   b . The first passages  22   a ,  22   b  are positioned near the second side surfaces  20   a,    20   b  and the second passages  24   a ,  24   b  are positioned near the first side surfaces  18   a ,  18   b.    
     The assembly of an embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure  10 ′ from four of the roof members  12  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 3  shows four of the roof members  12  initially positioned adjacent one another upon ground level. Four of the first cables  28  are respectively passed through adjacent first passages  22   a  in each of the roof members  12 . Four of the second cables  29  are similarly passed through respective adjacent second passages  24   a  and  24   b.    
     The roof members  12  are then positioned with the edges between their top surfaces  14  and adjacent first sides  18   a  and  18   b  in contact. An angled gap is thus formed between the adjacent first side surfaces  18   a  and  18   b . A force is then applied to the ends of the first cables  28 , relative to the roof members  12 , adjacent the outermost two of the sides  18   a  and  18   b , for example by jacking. The force drives the roof members  12  together in a manner which increases the overall angle between them and reduces the angled gap. A similar force is also applied to the ends of the second cables  29 . The forces drive the roof members  12  together in a manner which increases the overall angle between them and reduces the angled gaps. This movement causes the roof members  12  to rise towards the domed configuration shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     For a permanent structure  10 ′, the cables  28  and  29  are then bonded to the roof members  12 , for example by applying grout into the passages  22   a  and  22   b . For a temporary structure  10 ′, the external ends of the cables  28  and  29  are releasably fixed relative to the external sides  18   a  and  18   b  of the roof structure  10 ′, for example by clamping, and are left unbonded. 
     The domed roof structure  10  can advantageously be quickly, easily and relatively inexpensively built, as extensive scaffolding and false work is not required to facilitate construction. The structure  10  can be produced in a range of sizes to suit small and large span buildings. The structure  10  can be created permanent or demountable form. 
     In addition, the domed roof structure  10  also possesses the load resisting advantages of the domed non-steel roof frames disclosed in Australian Patent Application No. 2008202183. 
       FIG. 5  shows a second embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure  50 . The structure  50  is similar to the structure  10  and like features have been indicated with like reference numerals to those used to describe the structure  10 . However, in addition, the exterior sides and edges of the structure  50  are reinforced by truss and beam arrangements  52  and the structure  50  is elevated by columns  54 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a fourth embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure  60 , which is also similar to the roof structure  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , aside from the addition of reinforced supporting columns  62  at each corner. 
       FIG. 7  shows a fifth embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure  70 , which is similar to the roof structure  60  shown in  FIG. 6 , aside from inverted supporting columns  72  at each corner. 
       FIG. 8  shows a sixth embodiment of a domed non-steel roof structure  80 , which again is similar to the roof structures  60  and  70  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , aside from the form of supporting columns  82  at each corner. 
       FIGS. 9   a  to  9   d  show cross-sectional views of beam and/or truss members  90   a,    90   b ,  90   c  and  90   d  used to form the periphery of alternative roof members  12 . The beam/truss members  90   a ,  90   b ,  90   c  and  90   d  are initially produced in straight lengths then rolled to produce segments that are arcuate in nature and thus suitable to form the exterior/sides of the roof members  12 . Each of the beam/truss members  90   a ,  90   b ,  90   c  and  90   d  also incorporate a passage  92  and is shown with one or more cables  94  therein. 
     The assembly of a seventh embodiment of domed non-steel roof structure  96  from  4  of the roof members  12  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . The roof structure  96  is similar to that described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , except for the addition of hinges  98  between the adjacent roof members  12 . The hinges  98  assist in keeping the roof members  12  positioned with the edge between their top surfaces  14  and adjacent first sides  18   a  and  18   b  and adjacent second sides  20   a  and  20   b  in contact during their rise towards the completed domed configuration. 
       FIG. 11  shows a roof member  100  of an eighth embodiment of domed non-steel roof structure in isolation. The roof member  100  is similar to the roof member  12  shown in  FIG. 2 , expect for the addition of hinges  102 , similar to those described with reference to  FIG. 10 , at each corner of the roof member  100 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the roof structure  80  of  FIG. 8  with the addition of arrows showing the tensile lines of resistance in the roof structure  80  when it is subjected to its intended (upward) load during use. The tension in the cables advantageously also resists deflection in the structure  80  caused by that load. The structure  80  is able to resist deflection under its designed load conditions as the tension applied to the cables (to assemble the structure  80 ) relative to the roof members also stores strain energy in the structure  80 . Accordingly, as load is applied to the structure  80 , the counter strain stored in the structure  80  resists the application of that load, thereby advantageously increasing the load capacity of the structure  80  for a given deflection. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.