STRUCTURAL DESIGN FOR ARCHITECTURE

Structural Design for Architecture

Fig. 3.40 (a) Basic components of the Mero space frame.

This highly versatile system allows great freedom to the

building designer because the lengths of the elements are

not predetermined. It is possible to use this system to

create a wide variety of structural forms including domes

and vaults as well as flat space decks,

(b) Church, Milton Keynes, England, with Mero spacedeck

roof. [Photo BICC]

Standardisation normally imposes fairly

severe geometric constraints on the design,

however, both on the overall form which can

be adopted and in the positioning and spacing

of the supports. Some proprietary systems can

be used for flat decks only (Figs 3.38 and 3.39)

but others are more versatile and can have

more complicated geometries (Figs 3.40 and

3.41). Most proprietary systems are designed

84 for the short-span range (to cover areas of