Wasaw Supermarket

Abstract

When constructing roofs for large buildings, such as the Warsaw Supermarket, recently completed, it is often aimed to achieve the largest possible free spans. The cost of the roof is not proportional to the span, but it does depend on the weight per unit area. In this case the roof has a plan area of 82 x 42 ms. In its design the principle of obtaining the most uniform distribution of loading has been followed. Four alternative designs have been considered. The first one was a roof supported by cables attached to the central part of the roof and to the extremities. The second also consisted of a suspended roof, but the cables were not anchored at the central part. The third design involves cantilevers with tie members. The fourth design is very similar to the third, but the cantilevers form a continuous arch, whereby the load on the tie members is reduced, as the arch transmits the load partially to the rest of the rigid structure. The last of these four designs was adopted. In this the tie members, and the cantilevers, work together and are continuous with the rest of the structure.