[natelox]

How does T5 work structurally?

Here are some pictures:

http://www.richardrogers.co.uk/Asp/uploadedFiles/image/1065_t5/design/1065_0402_1_w.jpg

Those three elements (columns?), what are they doing? Do they act in compression? I don't see how they could, as it looks like the whole roof would fall down? Do they act in tension? If so, what force is creating the tension?

http://www.richardrogers.co.uk/Asp/uploadedFiles/image/1065_t5/design/1065_0391_1_w.jpg

This is a better picture of the final product. The 'monkey-arm columns' on far right.

[Kelvin]

Holy Crap -- Get out Now!

[Kelvin]

If I had to guess (and I am), the vertical element spanning from roof to grade is a tension member. This can be achieved is a variety of ways, perhaps using a turn-buckle system or perhaps the roof was loaded temporarily until the tension strut was attached then unloaded (similar to drawing a bow). The compression strut may have had to have a temporary stay to keep it stable during this process, but I think that it would work.

Either way, once it receives a pretension, the system is stable. Note also the cable running across the bottom of the roof girder - it also likely is post-tensioned.

[Captain Carpetburn]

http://www.arup.com/_assets/_download/download627.pdf

Study of the roof design - from the arup journal.

[natelox]

Thank you very much. Good find.