Multiple Folded Plate Structures

A computer program is developed for analyzing folded plate structures with more than two plates meeting at a joint known as multiple folded plate structures. The method of analysis is based on the stiffness method developed by DeFries-Skene and Scordelis. Derivation of the stiffness coefficients which are omitted by the previous authors are included. Unlike the method by DeFries-Skene and Scordelis, joint loads are obtained from the fixed-end slab forces. The computer program solves directly the final slab forces and plate forces. Application of the program is shown by three examples. Investigation shows that the plate forces solved can be quite accurate but the slab forces obtained can only be as accurate as the load approximation.