Polymorf - Knowhere - Plate action

forces bearing on them and how the internal forces are distributed within them. That is,

they exhibit plate action as opposed to the lattice action we just covered. The equation

describing the stability of pure plate structures is:

E = 3 F - 6 where E = edges

F = faces

Notice that, in terms of plate action, this equation asserts that the cube plate structure just

pictured in Fig. 203 is stable. But the cube lattice structure is not stable. Why is this so?

Pure plate structures are entirely composed of rigid plates that are joined together edge to

edge with flexible hinge joints. These edges are called shear lines because the internal

stresses generated by an external load are distributed over the surface area of the plates,

which are then concentrated as shear forces along the entire length of the edges where the

	plates are joined. This shear force consists of a pair of equal,
	parallel forces acting in opposite directions with no distance
	between them, as shown in the animation to the left. Note
	how pressing on the opposite vertices of the cube plate
	structure causes the plates to shear past each other when
	there is no hinge pin, or pinge, to resist this stress. Normally
	the pinges of the structure resist this shearing when they are
	positioned between the plates. The pinges, plus the rigidity
(demonstration model)	of the plates enables the structure to achieve a state of stable
Fig. 204 - Plates of a cube	equilibrium so that it resists shear failure when loaded. Due
shearing past each other	to the hinge able nature of this joint the plates do not
	experience bending moments when the structure is loaded at

its vertices. Therefore pure plate structures are statically determinate, although the static

analysis techniques are considerably more complex than those for trusses, or even lattices.

The following images show building sections that are modeled as plate structures. Each is


a) 9 = 3 ( 5 ) - 6	*b) 9 = 3 ( 5 ) - 6	*c) 12 = 3 ( 6 ) - 6	d) 8 < 3 ( 5 ) - 6
stable	stable	stable	unstable
click image to enlarge
Fig. 205 - Plate stability analysis of structures (static demonstration models)

* Note: for modeling purposes, all panels lying in the same plane are counted as one plate

analyzed for its stability as a pure plate structure using E = 3 F - 6. Note that most of the

models are stable except d), a square pyramid peaked roof. It is undoubtedly rigid since

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Page 121 - Building stability - Plate action