Reciprocal Frame Roof Model

This is a project I'm working on for the development of a new kitchen and storage space as part of the developing business Menter Pandy, North Wales.

Following the construction of a reciprocal framed roof building five years ago, there's been a decision to create a theme according to the design and build another one. Here's the original building which I only helped with a little:

 

The original design (not done by myself!) unfortunately proved to be very unsafe. The lateral forces of the roof timbers were so great they slowly slid down the supporting posts and also pushed them outwards, such that the walls were no longer upright. Remedial works involving the construction of new posts inward from the originals, tensioning wires fixed at the base of each of the five roof beams (taking the lateral force in an interesting pentagram shape), and fixing bolts tying the roof beams to the wall plates proved effective in fixing the problems.

Back to the new design work..

I've been asked to help with the design of the second version of this type of building. Here's what I've developed.
 

I translated the SketchUp measurements of a notched reciprocal beam into a physical model:

 

  

  

 

Very strong. About 2mm deflection when standing on it!

I've developed a Grasshopper definition to parametrically derive the measurements. Available here.