An A-frame is a basic

structure A structure is an arrangement and organization of interrelated elements in a material object or system, or the object or system so organized. Material structures include man-made objects such as buildings and machines and natural objects such as ...

designed to bear a load in a lightweight economical manner. The simplest form of an A-frame is two similarly sized beams, arranged in an angle of 45 degrees or less, attached at the top, like an uppercase letter 'A'. These materials are often wooden or steel beams attached at the top by rope,

welding Welding is a fabrication (metal), fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, primarily by using high temperature to melting, melt the parts together and allow them to cool, causing Fusion welding, fusion. Co ...

, gluing, or riveting. A-frames can be used as-is, as part of shears, or set up in a row along a longitudinal beam for added stability, as in a

saw horse In woodworking, a saw-horse or sawhorse (saw-buck, trestle, buck) is a Trestle support, trestle structure used to support a lumber, board or plank (wood), plank for sawing. A pair of sawhorses can support a plank, forming a scaffold. In certa ...

. More complex structures will often have crossmembers connecting the A-frames at different angles,"A-frame" (2009). ''

Oxford English Dictionary The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the principal historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP), a University of Oxford publishing house. The dictionary, which published its first editio ...

'' Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0). Oxford University Press. forming a

truss A truss is an assembly of ''members'' such as Beam (structure), beams, connected by ''nodes'', that creates a rigid structure. In engineering, a truss is a structure that "consists of two-force members only, where the members are organized so ...

Other structures that use A-frames

* A-frame house * A-frame

hydroponics Hydroponics is a type of horticulture and a subset of #Passive sub-irrigation, hydroculture which involves growing plants, usually crops or medicinal plants, without soil, by using water-based mineral Plant nutrition, nutrient Solution (chemi ...

system * A-frame contour measuring spirit level * A frame camping tent * A-frame complex, a motif in chemistry * Folding ladder * Double wishbone suspension (cars) * Some suspension bridges * Some swing bridges * A-frame level: An A-frame with a plumb line hung from the vertex, used to establish a horizontal line; known in ancient Egypt, these were used in Europe until the mid–19th century. * At the stern of ships for fishing or research. These may be fixed or luffing. Similar arrangements are used for launch and recovery systems for diving bells, ROUVs and small

submersible A submersible is an underwater vehicle which needs to be transported and supported by a larger ship, watercraft or dock, platform. This distinguishes submersibles from submarines, which are self-supporting and capable of prolonged independent ope ...

s from other positions on a support ship. * The main building of Florida's

Disney's Contemporary Resort Disney's Contemporary Resort, originally to be named Tempo Bay Hotel and previously the Contemporary Resort Hotel, is a resort located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. Opened on October 1, 1971, the hotel is one of two ori ...

, in which the

Walt Disney World The Walt Disney World Resort is an destination resort, entertainment resort complex located about southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Wa ...

monorail has a station * Some Wienerschnitzel and

Whataburger Whataburger is an American regional fast food restaurant Chain store, chain, headquartered and based in San Antonio, Texas, that specializes in hamburgers. Founded by Harmon Dobson and Paul Burton, it opened its first restaurant in Corpus Chri ...

restaurants use the A-frame * The London Eye is supported by only one A-frame on one side. * Some beam engines use an A-frame

References

External links

* {{Commons category inline Structural system