Long-span Lamella Roofs of Early Modernism. Construction history, geometry and load bearing behavior
Doctoral Thesis (2020)
Chair of Structural Design
by Joram Tutsch
In the 1920s, several German engineers designed innovative roof structures made of flat elements of wood or steel. Some of these roofs and associated patents have been commercialized and built all over the world.
Unfortunately, most of them do not exist anymore or are in bad condition. The question of further stability has often been answered by regarding only the project-related circumstances and the individual construction. Different solutions have been documented: acute safety measures, complete refurbishment and reinforcement, closure, demolition. In general, these projects show considerable uncertainty in the assessment of the structural behavior.
The research project aims to summarize and to compare the historical development of the diverse construction methods between 1920 and 1935. Based on these results, static models are developed to carry out representative studies of the load-bearing behavior and to develop potential repair strategies. This will provide a scientific basis to guarantee the long-term preservation of the remaining buildings.
