A rigid frame is a strong structural configuration consisting of fixed connections between frame pieces, commonly made of steel. It is used in buildings, bridges, and vehicles for its strength, stability, and efficiency. It provides more usable space than arched construction, but requires inflexible foundations. Bridges benefit from reduced deflection and vibration, and wider spans without disturbing the natural flow of water. Vehicles with rigid frames are lighter and more efficient, but provide rough rides.
A rigid frame is a structural configuration consisting of a frame in which the connections between all the frame pieces are fixed at particular angles that do not change. Structural steel pieces are most common, but other types of framing pieces can also be used, including concrete structural pieces in bridges. This type of frame is particularly desirable due to its relatively high strength compared to other types of frame.
Fixed structures such as buildings and bridges are the most typical applications where this type of construction is used. Warehouse and office buildings, retail spaces, recreational facilities, aircraft hangars and more can all be built with this type of frame. Bridges that take advantage of this design can be found all over the world. Ontario, Canada in particular is home to several historic rigid-frame bridges. The rigid frame design can also be incorporated into non-stationary applications such as wheelchairs, bicycles, motorcycles and industrial trucks.
There are some notable advantages to this style of building design. For example, the typical square or rectangular construction of a rigid frame building produces more usable space than a comparable rounded frame building such as one that uses arched construction. The rounded structural pieces of an arched building reduce the available head space and lateral space where the structural pieces curve. Larger free spaces are possible with rigid frames as opposed to building styles that require internal columns for support. Buildings constructed this way, however, require inflexible foundations, and uneven settlement is not easily accommodated by this type of design.
Bridges can be constructed using rigid frame construction to take advantage of the inherent strength and stability of the configuration. Other benefits of this type of frame that are desirable in bridge construction are the reduced deflection and vibration of the structural members under load. Environmental considerations may also be involved in choosing the rigid frame structure for a given bridge design. Since a wider span is possible without a supporting column in the center, such a bridge can be used over a stream without disturbing the natural flow of water and causing harmful environmental effects.
Strength, weight, and efficiency are also important factors considered when incorporating a rigid frame into a vehicle design. All structural pieces are fixed so no energy is wasted by bending, moving parts and instead everything is applied to propel the vehicle forward. The comparably higher strength of a rigid frame compared to other types of frames also means that the vehicle can be built with a lighter frame. These considerations may be particularly important in some applications, such as for a disabled person who wants to wheel their wheelchair up a ramp. Rigid frames, however, tend to provide rough rides, as the shocks taken from going over bumps cannot be absorbed easily by the fixed structural pieces.
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