miamicanes
Computer
- Mar 20, 2004
- 1
Can anybody recommend any available books, articles, theses, etc. on the practical & cost-effective design of non-flat concrete roof structures for residences? I've been researching the matter for a while, but everything I've found deals only with the most straightforward (but architecturally limiting) strategies, like simple gabled roofs over rectangular homes with a loadbearing wall dividing the house in half acting as a ridge beam. I know that such roofs actually exist ( and ), but everyone who's actually done it seems to view their strategies as closely-guarted trade secrets.
What I'm more interested in are strategies employing space frames or two-way plates joined at various angles to create hip-type roofs, or moderately stepped gables, that are (more or less) entirely supported by the perimeter walls of the house (possibly with a small number of columns at a few critical, well-chosen locations). Ideally, the articles would document various strategies that were considered (steel or reinforced concrete space frames, joists, simply-supported beams, etc) and identify why their particular strategies were chosen (cost-efficiency, architectural flexibility, formwork availability, etc).
Ultimately, just about any competent engineer can design a million-dollar roof if cost is no object... the big question is whether anyone has documented strategies for doing it in ways that "normal" homeowners (in places like, say, South Florida) can actually afford, making compromises that won't render 99.9% of modern open floorplans practically unbuildable in the process.
What I'm more interested in are strategies employing space frames or two-way plates joined at various angles to create hip-type roofs, or moderately stepped gables, that are (more or less) entirely supported by the perimeter walls of the house (possibly with a small number of columns at a few critical, well-chosen locations). Ideally, the articles would document various strategies that were considered (steel or reinforced concrete space frames, joists, simply-supported beams, etc) and identify why their particular strategies were chosen (cost-efficiency, architectural flexibility, formwork availability, etc).
Ultimately, just about any competent engineer can design a million-dollar roof if cost is no object... the big question is whether anyone has documented strategies for doing it in ways that "normal" homeowners (in places like, say, South Florida) can actually afford, making compromises that won't render 99.9% of modern open floorplans practically unbuildable in the process.
