Folded plate construction
Folded plate structures are assemblies of flat plates, or slabs, inclined in different directions and joined along their longitudinal edges. In this way the structural system is capable of carrying loads without the need for additional supporting beams along mutual edges. This technique originated in Germany in the 1920s and became popular in Russia and the United States during the 1930s to construct roofs for industrial warehouses and public buildings.
Modern folded plate structures are typically made of cast in situ or precast reinforced concrete, or steel plate.
They can provide a multitude of shapes and overall forms:
- Prismatic: Rectangular plates.
- Pyramidal: Non-rectangular plates.
- Prismoidal: Triangular or trapezoidal plates.
There are several benefits of folded plate construction. They are simpler to manufacture than other shells such as cylindrical shells, with relatively simple formwork required, and usually use less material. However, folded plates require more materials than curved shells since there is normally more bending involved.
Folded plate structures have an intrinsic rigidity and high load-carrying capacity which makes them economical over long spans that need to be free of internal columns and other obstructions.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Barrel vault.
- Cantilever.
- Cladding for buildings.
- Conoid shell.
- Curtain wall systems.
- Domestic roofs.
- Formwork.
- Long span roof.
- Masonry.
- Pendentive dome.
- Portal frame.
- Purlins.
- Shell roof.
- Structural engineer.
- Suspended ceiling.
- Types of ceiling.
[edit] External references
- ‘Building Construction Handbook’ (6th ed.), CHUDLEY, R., GREENO, R., Butterworth-Heinemann (2007)
Featured articles and news
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description fron the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”
Guidance notes to prepare for April ERA changes
From the Electrical Contractors' Association Employee Relations team.
Significant changes to be seen from the new ERA in 2026 and 2027, starting on 6 April 2026.
First aid in the modern workplace with St John Ambulance.
Solar panels, pitched roofs and risk of fire spread
60% increase in solar panel fires prompts tests and installation warnings.
Modernising heat networks with Heat interface unit
Why HIUs hold the key to efficiency upgrades.
Comments