ATSUSHI IMAI MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM

LOCATION – ODATE , AKITA , JAPAN

ARCHITECT – SHIGERU BAN
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER – TIS & PARTNERS

TEAM MEMBERS:
CHEREK, KEVIN
HANDIQUE, SARIKA
KARUNAKARAN, PUDHUMA BHARATHI
PILANKAR, AAROHI
SHENDE, SOUMITRA

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 SHIGERU BAN
• Shigeru Ban is a global architect
•Work reflects blend of his American architectural
training and his native Japanese influences.
•Adopts a construction method in which the structure
is integrated into an over all design.
•Innovative exploration and Integration of materials
so as to enhance their structural potential.
•Materials ranging from Paper, wood, bamboo and
steel.

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 •Project completion date : August 2002
•Set in a context of a private house and two storey regional
hospital building
•The main volume of the structure functions as a gymnasium as
well as concert hall and annex spaces of the ellipse contain
swimming pool, changing room and piano room.
• 980 square meter space enclosed by an elliptical dome.
•The dome is constructed with LSL (laminated strand lumber) and
steel pipe members
• It has classic styles of Japanese technical purism by means of
a construction method characteristic of technological globalization
process.
•The main structure is placed underground, only the dome and
the eaves of the two entrances are visible
•The region is known for its heavy snowfall piling up to shoulder
heights.
•The aesthetic structural components enhances the lighting
quality of the space.

ATSUSHI IMAI MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 SPACE AND ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE BUILT FORM

PLAN OF GYMNASIUM LEGEND

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 IDENTIFYING TWO TYPES OF STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

ROOF STRUCTURE

UNDERGROUND RCC SUB STRUCTURE

RCC SUB STRUCTURE ROOF STRUCTURE

RCC BRACING AND RETAINING WALLS MULTISKINNED ELLIPTICAL GRID DOME

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
SELECTED STRUCTURAL SYSTEM FOR ANALYSIS
ROOF STRUCTURE OR MULTISKINNED ELLIPTICAL GRID DOME

• To analyze we selected the dome of the structure,

which can be identified as a grid dome. A structural
system of reinforced wood or LSL that works like a
skeleton in a vertebrate.
• The plan of the dome is elliptical and is supported by 2
sets of arches.
• TRUSSED ARCHES ALONG THE MINOR AXIS
• VIERENDEEL ARCHES ALONG THE MAJOR
AXIS
• The load is distributed along the geometric continuity
of the curved surface of interlocking arches where it is
met with the elastic response of the joints which
harmonize the distribution of induced loads.
• The arches along the longer side are set at an angle
such that they work as lattice members.

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 IDENTIFYING COMPONENTS OF THE GRID DOME SYSTEM

PENTAGONAL TRUSS
ARCH • Arches spanning in one direction generate lateral
stability for arches in other direction
• Pentagonal trussed arch along minor axis provide
space within themselves for Vierendeel arches
spanning along major axis
• Interconnection of two arches in opposite direction
VIERENDEEL ARCH
generates multi skinned grid dome as one structure.
• The whole assembly is then covered with strips of light
weight polycarbonate sheets thus allowing diffused
light to enter the space.
• Both Arches are composed of LSL (Laminated Strand
CONNECTION DETAIL
Lumber) and steel pipe sections and plates.
• Shear panels made out of LSL hold together 3 chords
of Vierendeel Arch and prevent torsion between the
members.
STRESSES IN THE ARCH AND LSL
 LOAD TRANSFER

LSL

SUPER STRUCTURE Drift pin 36

steel tube

diagonal member

Steel tube/ pin/ lower chord or shear panel (vierendeel arch)

Steel springer
SUB STRUCTURE
RC ring beam

RC “V” Bracing buttress / retaining wall

Raft foundation

Ground
 CONNECTION DETAILS

•Connection of arch to base:

Arch rests on RC ring beam with steel Springer laid
with non shrink mortar and bolted with A Bolt B M- 24
L-400

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 CONNECTION DETAILS

•Connection between chords of truss arch and

truss arch to Vierendeel arch:
By means of common lattice members with CT 100 x
50 x 6 x 8 and LSL (t=50)
Drift pins (steel rod 36 Ø SS 400 precut M16 nut) to
allow movement

•Connection within lamina of the LSL :

Lag screw 12 Ø

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 LOAD ANALYSIS

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 LOAD ANALYSIS
TYPES OF LOADS:
• Dead load :
Self weight of the grid dome structure
Self weight of LSL= 0.68 g/cc
Self weight of Steel sections and screws = 0.69 to o.71 g/cc
Self weight of Polycarbonate sheet covering
• Live load:
Snow load is a major concern since the area receives heavy snow fall ranging from 75 centimeters to
225 centimeters in a season.
• Wind load:
Not a major Concern since most of the built structure except roof dome is underground.
Roof dome will have to withstand upward drift in case of suction effect created by wind.
• Lateral Earth pressure load:
Since most of the structure is underground, Lateral earth pressure is resisted by RCC retaining walls.
• Seismic Load:
Odate, Japan where the structure is located comes under 200km earthquake depth zone

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 SNOW LOAD ANALYSIS
The gymnasium is located an area of heavy snowfall, so two full scale trussed arches were constructed and
Loaded to simulate normal snow accumulation (uniformly distributed load) and snow drifts
(Unevenly distributed loads)

Uniformly Distributed Load:

Average snowfall = 150 centimeters in winter
Load to be borne by roof dome structure = 450 kg/ sq. meter (150 cms. depth x 3 kg/ [Link] / cms.)

Unevenly Distributed load:

Variation in snow fall-
75 cm…..147kg/ sq. meter
150 cm….294 kg/ sq. meter
225 cm….441 kg/ sq. meter
1. LSL
. (Thickness=60
mm)
2. 36mm dia.
steel rod
3. 78.5mm dia.
Steel tube

SNOW LOAD FORCE DISTRIBUTION SNOW LOAD TESTING METHOD

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 MULTIFRAME ANALYSIS FOR SNOW LOAD

ARCH ALONG MAJOR AXIS

VIERENDEEL ARCH

Bending Moment Diagram

Shear Force Diagram Deflection Diagram

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 MULTIFRAME ANALYSIS FOR SNOW LOAD

ARCH ALONG MINOR AXIS

TRUSS ARCH

Bending Moment Diagram

Shear Force Diagram

Deflection Diagram

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 MULTIFRAME ANALYSIS FOR SNOW LOAD

Bending Moment

Deflection

Shear Force

ARCH ALONG MAJOR AXIS ARCH ALONG MINOR AXIS

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 LATERAL LOADS & RESISTING SYSTEM
Lateral loads :
Wind load:
Retaining Earth load
Seismic load

Akita

Seismic load:
Earthquake depth = 200 km
M= approx 4

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 LATERAL LOADS & RESISTING SYSTEM
Lateral resisting system is integrated at all levels

- Shear panels of Vierendeel arch help tie the truss arch

- Ring beam ties the arches at the base

- The outer structure of the base acts like haunches of the main arch system , and loads get transferred
as in a buttress via the beams to retaining walls

- Lateral V bracing below the ring beam also helps to tie & to resist the arch thrust

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 PRELIMINARY TESTS PERFORMED ON THE SAMPLES

LSL BENDING TEST

Lamina specimens (convex, concave, and straight ) were
tested for their bending strength.
Results:
LSL bending strength= 494 kgf / cm2
Strength was not dependent on the curvature of the LSL.

SINGLE SHEAR LSL TO STEEL CONNECTION TEST

Drift pin shear tests in directions parallel and perpendicular
to the grain.
Results:
Yield strength= 3095 kgf / cm2
Yield load and stiffness perpendicular to grain were nearly
half of those specimens parallel to the grain.

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 FIELD JOINT CONNECTION TENSION
TEST:
The drift pins & lag screws were clamped
and pulled apart applying load (parallel
and perpendicular to grain).
Results :
Tensile strength:
Drift pin : 202300 kg /cm (parallel), 88900
kg/cm (perpendicular)
Lag screw : 124400 kg/ cm (parallel) , 4370
kg/cm (perpendicular)

SHEAR STIFFNESS OF LSL PANEL:

Two LSL panels with 7mm dia hole were
connected using CT and lag screws.
Results:
Shear stiffness= 3980 kgf/cm
Destruction was concentrated at lag screws.

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 CONCLUSIONS

• Choice of Double Skin Grid Dome structure

facilitates higher span to depth ratios of the
member.
• Logical solution to the form.
Overall form / geometry of the built structure
is very suitable for resisting lateral loads such
as Seismic load and lateral thrust crated by
snow load on dome structure.
• Choice of materials such as LSL ,Steel and
their careful integration facilitates light
weight superstructure in an earthquake
prone region like Japan.
• Structural system and choice of material
generates high levels of spatial aesthetics.

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005
 Thank You..

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION ARCH 631 ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES 3 DATE – 1st DECEMBER 2005