Shell roofing of the KÖFÉM Factory – historical case study on the effect of geometrical imperfection
| Author(s): |
Réka Mándoki
Orsolya Gaspar Istvan Sajtos |
|---|---|
| Medium: | conference paper |
| Language(s): | English |
| Conference: | Interfaces: Architecture, Engineering, Science, Annual Meeting of the International Association of Shell & Spatial Structures (IASS), Hamburg, 25-27 September 2017 |
| Published in: | Interfaces: Architecture . Engineering . Science |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Abstract: |
The structural engineer of the KÖFÉM I factory (1959) István Menyhárd (1902-1969) was a pioneer of
shell architecture and theory already before WWII. His design clearly originates in his previous, pre-war
works but the influence of international trends (eg. Brynmawr Factory /1946-1951/, structural engineer
Ove Arup, Ronald Jenkins) is also noticeable – adding to its historical significance. The most remarkable
feature of his design was a unique construction technology that made the shell roof extremely costeffective.
Although its daring structural solution coupled with an ingenious construction technology
eventually made the KÖFÉM factory an archetype of the most widely used shell-roofing typology in
Hungary, it faced some major difficulties at the beginning: the 1:1 scale mock-up, ordered by the contractor
collapsed. The investigation brought to light major constructional deficiencies, resulting in serious
geometric imperfections that led to the collapse of the shell. The original structural concept was declared
safe and the factory was eventually successfully constructed. Present paper investigates a parametric model of the mock-up structure with finite element analysis. The effect of various geometric imperfections (mentioned in the original documentation about the collapsed mock-up) is studied: non-uniform shell-thickness, non-accurate formwork, insufficient scaffolding. |
- About this
data sheet - Reference-ID
10077753 - Published on:
21/04/2018 - Last updated on:
05/03/2019
Structurae cooperates with
