Mobility Analysis of Reciprocal Frames

Abstract

Reciprocal Frame (RF) is a three-dimensional grillage structure that consists of mutually supported elements. In RF, whatever the composition that is built, the geometry should always have two members that are connected at a time. Moreover, at least three members should be connected to create a grid, but there is no limit for the maximum. In the research that has been done until today, the geometry of RF, form-finding issues, connections, structural behavior, fabrication methods were studied, but there is very limited number of studies about kinetic RF. In this study RF structures for single loop 3-, 4-, and 5-nexor configurations are analyzed in terms of their motion capabilities. The kinematic diagrams are drawn and their mobilities are calculated. Zero, single, and multi Degrees of Freedom (DoF) configurations are obtained. It has been found that the configurations with revolute joint series get minimum value and also it is not necessary to use as many joints as possible or joints with as many DoF as possible in the configuration to get maximum mobility value.

Design of Demountable Reciprocal Frames with New Geometric Properties

“…For these RFs, the mathematical model proposed in this study is needed. As a preliminary research, "Mobility Analysis of Reciprocal Frames" study was carried out at the International Symposium of Architecture, Technology and Innovation (ATI) [10].…”