The idea was to create an adaptable space to host a diverse array of events throughout the year, accommodating the variable climatic conditions prevalent in the region, be it the inclemency of winter or the intensity of summer.
Central to the project is installing a roof canopy using a photovoltaic glass layer and extending it over the entire square. It is ingeniously designed to harness solar energy and generate a sustainable power supply for the operational needs of the market. With a collective expanse of 4,300 square meters, the canopy is strategically partitioned into two distinct platforms, namely the upper and lower platforms.
Gallery
About the project
The primary framework comprises a series of steel trusses spanning a total distance of 45 meters, featuring a central span of 29.6 meters and cantilevers of 7.7 meters on each side of the roof. These trusses are arranged in parallel, maintaining a 7.4-meter spacing between them. The primary truss exhibits a variable height, reaching approximately 2.5 meters above the columns and 2 meters at the mid-span. Additionally, the structure incorporates tubular purlins to which the photovoltaic structural glass is affixed.
In accordance with architectural specifications, the entire structure was meticulously designed using circular hollow sections. The intricacies of the production process necessitated categorizing the steel structure under the EXC3 execution class as per the EN 1090-2 standard.
Engineering challenges
The steel framework posed numerous challenges, with many complexities. Most of them come from the requirements of the project architect and the fact that the whole structure was designed entirely from CHS profiles. For CHS profiles, there is, in general, very little guidance in codes, and more advanced numerical solutions are usually needed. This is especially the case with such complex geometry, resulting in nodes where structural members from different directions converged simultaneously.
Also worth mentioning, there was the issue of the need for transportability in an area with stringent restrictions on heavy truck circulation, which posed a significant hurdle. Consequently, the main trusses, each spanning 45 meters, had to be divided into smaller segments capable of being pre-assembled on-site before the final erection, navigating the logistical constraints effectively.
Moreover, the imposition of pre-cambers in the main trusses became imperative to precisely regulate deflections within the steel structure. This measure was crucial given the glass cover's sensitivity to substantial deflections, demanding meticulous control over the structural elements.
Solutions and results
Due to the complex geometry of the connections, the approach adopted in their design was based on an iterative process. This would be very time-consuming due to tedious modeling if it weren't for the BIM link option between IDEA StatiCa and Tekla Structures. IDEA StatiCa Connection was then used mainly to analyze the behavior of the connections.
Without Idea Statica software, the process of designing the steel connections in a project with these characteristics would have become extremely difficult. The interoperability between IDEA StatiCa,the BIM modeling software and structural analysis software allowed for interesting process optimization.
José Manuel Silva
Technical Director and Structural Engineer – STEELPLAN
Portugalia
In the first phase, the connections were dimensioned from an analytical perspective and even with an important component of empirical knowledge. The result of this design phase was incorporated into the BIM model, developed in Tekla Structures, and its design was made compatible with the node geometry and the structure singularities.
In the second phase, the refined geometry was directly imported from Tekla Structures into IDEA StatiCa, and all safety checks and adjustments were carried out to reach the final design.
In addition to the classic EPS analysis, the CHS, as with other thin-walled profiles, had to be checked for buckling shape. And unfortunately, due to many connected bars to the main column, a problem with buckling appeared. However, the engineering team from Steelplan (José Manuel Silva, Joao Pimenta) was able to come up with an elegant solution that met the architectural requirements and ensured the safety of the structure.
Finite element analysis is necessary for designing such a complex connection and seeing the real behavior under a certain load. And that is exactly what IDEA StatiCa brings you. And you can easily modify and calculate the connection again in a short time.
João Pimenta
Steel Structural Engineer – STEELPLAN
Portugalia
Originally gusset plates welded to the surface were changed to plates that go through the entire cross-section of the main column, forming a "cross" inside the hollow section. This allowed the dimensions of the main elements to remain almost unmodified from the original design.
After some interactions, the final geometry was perfectly defined, and all the safety checks, according to Eurocodes, were carried out.
About Steelplan
Steelplan develops its activity in steel structural design and detail, BIM modeling, and work preparation for construction steelwork companies. Steelplan is based in Braga, north of Portugal, a very prominent region of construction steelwork in Portugal.
The company's experience is based on the dynamics and knowledge of its engineers with a large experience in the metalworking industry and their involvement in reference projects at a national and international level.
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