High tensile UL700 frame module with adjustable control of length and angle

• A flexible truss frame leads to both length and angle adjustable.
• TRIZ provides conceptual idea of evaluating the module.
• Structural behaviors of high strength steel UL700 frame are investigated.
• Mock-up tests the specification of frame modules.
• The module satisfies both economic and structural safety.

The goal of this study is to evaluate an advance in the frame modules and frame structures used to truss structures. In detail, it relates to a frame module that allows the adjustment of its length and angle to accommodate diverse shape changes and spatial demands of the truss frame structure. In the conventional method, frame modules within a given truss frame are fixed together in a definite direction, and the connectivity of the module fundamentally cannot be changed. When some remodeling such as the expansion or reduction of space is necessary during the use of the structure, additive solutions using robotic or mechanical actuated systems must be used for each case of spatial change, leading to costs related to the additional design and construction. The present module is manually controlled and is adjustable in terms of its length and angle, and is comprised of the bottom frame that is composed of multiple bottom supporting devices, the contraction devices that can connect the connection supporting devices to each other in a slide-type configuration, the multiple connection supporter whose one end is attached to a corner of the bottom frame on a hinge, and the top fixing unit which is positioned at the intersection of upward-extended connection supporters to combine and fix the connection supporters on hinges. This idea is conceptually evaluated using a specific TRIZ methodology with four inventive thinking processes: “define,” “solve,” “design,” and “implement.” Simulations verify that it is an advanced product that secures structural safety and an optimized size for the present frame module made using UL700 steel material with high tensile strength of 500 or 700 MPa.