Mobile and Rapidly Assembled Structures

Structures that move in the course of normal use, or which have to be assembled or erected rapidly on a relatively unprepared site, offer a particular challenge to the designer. The interaction between the structure and the mechanism by which it moves is essential in these cases. The speed of assembly, what this means in terms of logistics, materials and cost, is a major factor in many such structures. Mobile and rapidly assembled structures play a major role in disaster mitigation and temporary accommodation. They are of primary importance in many military as well as civilian applications and are widely used for rescue and maintenance services. Their importance continues to grow in contemporary society where speed of response is of primary importance. There are common problems such as the efficient design of assembly joints, the resistance to damage of the membrane and metal cladding, crashworthiness and the limits of serviceability. Some areas of the subject are already well documented, but knowledge is fragmented and there is little design guidance available in the form of textbooks, data sheets or codes of practice.The interaction between morphology, kinematic behaviour and structural performance - typical for these structures - poses real challenges in terms of design and successful realisation. This multi-disciplinary proceedings volume contains papers presented at the fourth International Conference on Mobile, Adaptable and Rapidly Assembled Structures. Topics covered include: Temporary Structures and Dwellings; Engineering Transformation; Rapidly Assembled Kit-of-parts Systems; Innovative Approached; Tensegrity and Reciprocal Frames.

Table of Contents:
Contents Lightweight transformable structures: materialising the synergy between architectural and structural engineering Section 1: Temporary structures and dwellings Parametric modelling of an air-liftable origami-inspired deployable shelter with a novel erection strategy; The genius loci in the globalization millennium: temporary dwelling; Temporary systems after the earthquake in L'Aquila; The structural design and construction of a cable bending-active structure; Component reuse for disaster sheltering: from deployable scissor structures to kit-of-parts structures; The thermal performance of shelter modelling: improvement of temporary structures; An experimental study on the design method of a real-sized Mobile Bridge for a moving vehicle Section 2: Engineering transformation (Special session organised by C. Gengnagel) Form-finding bending-active structures with temporary ultra-elastic contraction elements; Pliable structures with rigid couplings for parallel leaf-springs: a pliable timber torus pavilion; A review of elastic grid shells, their erection methods and the potential use of pneumatic formwork; The design and physical modelling of deployable structures based on curved-line folding; A new hybrid: elastic gridshells braced by membranes; Transformable active bending: a kinematical concept; Evaluation of design parameters for deployable planar scissor arches; The design of a foldable triangulated scissor grid for single-curvature surfaces Section 3: Rapidly assembled kit-of-parts systems Rapidly building with lightweight modules and a dry assembled foundation: used in a mock-up for home units made out of reclaimed materials; Parametric modeling in form finding and application to the design of modular canopies; Design of an emergency footbridge Section 4: Innovative approaches Movable and launched bridges: recent realizations and improved techniques; Reciprocal Frame (RF) optimized timber truss structure: a design and build case study; The structural modelling of deconstructable beams, fabricated using friction-grip shear connection; Concepts for morphing aerofoil sections using pantographic structures Section 5: Tensegrity and reciprocal frames The technical and feasibility selection of space truss construction systems; Bio-inspired tetrakaidecahedron tensegrity optimisation