Analysis of Common Steel Structures in Industrial Buildings: The Outstanding Advantages of Space Frame Structures

In the construction of modern industrial buildings, steel structures have become the preferred choice for an increasing number of enterprises due to their unique advantages. Not only can they meet the demands for large spans and expansive spaces, but they also excel in construction efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. Selecting the appropriate steel structure configuration is crucial to ensuring the functionality, safety, and economic viability of the building.

1. Portal Frame Structure

Characteristics: A frame structure comprising solid or lattice steel columns and beams connected rigidly. Features a straightforward design with clear load transfer pathways.

Advantages:

Simple structure: Relatively straightforward to design and construct, facilitating standardisation.

Rapid construction: Components are highly prefabricated in factories, enabling swift on-site assembly.

Cost-effectiveness: Relatively low construction costs for medium-to-small span industrial buildings (typically 18-36 metres).

High internal space utilisation: No internal bracing provides an unobstructed internal space. 

Disadvantages:

 

Limited span capacity: Not suitable for ultra-large span industrial buildings; cost-effectiveness diminishes beyond certain span lengths.

Relatively low lateral rigidity: Additional bracing systems may be required for tall buildings or those subject to significant wind loads.

Limited aesthetic flexibility: Typically linear in form, offering constrained visual expression.

2. Truss Structure

Characteristics: A lattice-like framework formed by connecting members at their ends. Achieves large-span load-bearing through the stability of triangular configurations.

Advantages:

Exceptional large-span capability: Suitable for extensive spans (e.g., 30–100 metres or greater), efficiently utilising material strength.

Light self-weight: Compared to solid beams, truss structures utilise less steel and possess lighter self-weight.

Wide adaptability: Members' cross-sections and truss heights can be adjusted according to load and span requirements, offering diverse configurations.

Disadvantages:

Complex joints: Numerous member intersections create relatively complex fabrication and installation processes with high precision demands.

Large exposed surface area: The extensive exposed surface of members necessitates greater effort and cost for corrosion and fire protection treatments.

Internal spatial perception: The lower chords of trusses may slightly impact the perceived internal space.

3. Space Frame Structure

Characteristics: A spatial grid structure formed by multiple members connected through nodes. Members are arranged in an intersecting spatial pattern, creating a three-dimensional load-bearing system.

Advantages (Key Highlights):

Achieving Extraordinary Spans: This represents the most significant advantage of space frame structures. They readily accommodate spans of tens or even hundreds of metres, providing industrial buildings with exceptionally flexible column-free or minimal-column internal spaces. This substantially enhances site utilisation and production efficiency, meeting requirements for large equipment installation and production line layouts.

Lightweight and efficient with reduced steel consumption: Through rational spatial load distribution, the grid structure disperses loads across all members, ensuring relatively uniform stress distribution per member. This achieves characteristics of low self-weight and economical steel usage. This not only reduces foundation costs but also minimises consumption of natural resources, aligning with green and environmentally friendly principles.

High overall rigidity with superior seismic performance: As a three-dimensional spatial load-bearing system, space frames exhibit exceptional structural rigidity and stability. They effectively resist horizontal forces (such as wind and seismic loads), demonstrating excellent ductility and energy dissipation capabilities during earthquakes, thereby providing outstanding safety assurance for industrial buildings.

Flexible design with high aesthetic value: Space frame structures can be customised to diverse architectural requirements, including flat-plate, spherical shell, and conical configurations, accommodating complex floor plans and roof profiles. Their distinctive spatial grid form lends industrial buildings a contemporary aesthetic, enhancing corporate image.

Industrialised Production, Streamlined Construction: Truss components undergo highly standardised, factory-based prefabrication. On-site assembly involves either elevated or ground-level joining, followed by overall hoisting into position. This efficient construction methodology significantly reduces project timelines, ensures timely delivery, and minimises construction risks.

Excellent natural lighting and ventilation: The open nature of space frame structures provides ample natural light and ventilation for factory buildings. This reduces reliance on artificial lighting and air conditioning, thereby lowering operational energy consumption and further embodying green and environmentally friendly principles.

Disadvantages:

Relatively complex design and fabrication: As a three-dimensional spatial structure, it demands high precision in design calculations and component manufacturing, requiring specialised expertise and equipment.

Varied joint configurations: Multiple joint types exist, such as welded spherical joints and bolted spherical joints, necessitating experience in selection and construction.

In selecting steel structures for industrial buildings, space frame structures excel through their ultra-large spans, lightweight efficiency, exceptional overall rigidity, versatile configurations, and industrialised production advantages. While fulfilling functional requirements, they perfectly align with our company's commitment to environmental sustainability, delivering premium, secure, and robust steel structure designs and products globally. These structures not only provide a solid foundation for your production operations but also generate long-term economic benefits and sustainable value for your enterprise.

Selecting the appropriate steel structure form is a critical step towards the success of your industrial building project. Our professional team will tailor the most optimised, economical, and secure steel structure solution for you, based on your specific requirements and site conditions.