Prestressed Steel Grid Erected with Bent Forms

A new method for constructing one-layer steel grids erected by prestressing with the aid of recoverable bending forms is presented, followed by an approximate structural analysis. The grid elements are joined together by cables passing through them. By stressing other cables the flat grid erects itself to a vault, the shape of which is determined by the recoverable bending forms. The preliminary analysis covers the erection stages and dead, snow and wind loads during service. Using the results of a design example it is predicted that this new method, which dispenses with special joints on the one hand, and with high scaffolding and erection cranes on the other, will not require excessive amounts of steel.