SlideShare a Scribd company logo
Tensile structure Deepak Kumar, MSA
“I am concerned with the way in which
the language of engineering can be
turned into the language of the
body,” Anish Kapoor
PVC TENSILE STRUCTURE COMPLETED IN 2009
LOCATION Gibbs Farm, Kaipara Harbour, New Zealand
FABRIC AREA 4,300M2 / 46,284FT2
FABRIC TYPE PVC - FERRARI 1202T2 RED
ARCHITECT Structure Design
World famous sculptor selects Structurflex
http://www.structurflex.com/projects/
Bedouin (a nomadic Arab) Tents
History
Kazakh Mongolian(nomad) yurt
•And there’s evidence that
the Romans even covered
the Colosseum with
massive canopies, hoisted
by an intricate system of
pulleys, to protect the
audience from the
elements.
•But they really came into
their own in the last half of
the 20th century, when
designs like this by
Germany’s Frei Otto.
•Large flat pieces of fabric are
very poor at resisting loads.
•Imagine four of you each pulling
on the strings laced through a
tennis ball. Fig 1. A fifth person
pushing down on the ball can
deflect it easily.
•Fig 2. The ball is now locked in
space. Apply this principle to
fabric and you have created
‘anticlastic’ double curvature.
Sounds grand but actually is
simply derived from one of three
fabric shapes; the hypar, the cone
and the barrel.
Why tensiles are the
shape they are?
The world's first tensile
steel Shell by Vladimir Shukhov (during
construction), Nizhny Novgorod, 1895
Tensioned Fabric Structure: A structure where the exterior shell is a fabric material spread over a
framework. The fabric is maintained in tension in all directions to provide stability.
or
Tensile Structures
Tension roofs or canopies are those in which every part of the structure is loaded only in tension, with no
requirement to resist compression or bending forces.
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
PIER SIX PAVILION
Baltimore, Maryland
OPEN STRUCTURE
CHICAGO’S NAVY PIER
• Unique designs
• Lightweight and flexible
• Environmentally sensitive
• High strength weight ratio
• Little to no rigidity
• Loss of tension is dangerous for stability
• Thermal values limit use
DISADVANTAGESADVANTAGES
• FABRIC STRUCTURES CANNOT TAKE HEAVY WEATHER CONDITIONS FALSE
• FABRIC IS ELASTIC AND STRETCHES Fabric has a strong tensile strength and
will creep (stretch very slightly) only a few percent over 20 years of use.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
Types of structures:
•Stayed
•Suspended
• Anticlastic
• Pneumatic
•Trussed
Types of structure with
significant tension members
STAYED:
To span railroad trucks
underneath, the truss roof is
suspended by stay cables.
McCormick exhibit hall Chicago
Architect/Engineer: SOM
Renault Center Swindon, UK
Architect: Norman Foster
SUSPENDED STRUCTURES:
GOLDEN GATE Bridge,sanfrancisco, USA
Oakland Coliseum (1967)
Architect: SOM
Engineer: Ammann and Whitney
• Diameter 400 ft
• Outer concrete compression ring
• Inner steel tension ring
• Steel strands for main support
• Concrete ribs resist unbalanced load
• X-columns resist lateral seismic load
here is the sequence of force
transmission for the cable-stayed
bridge:
1. to the deck;
2. to the stay cable;
3. to the bridge tower;
4. and also is the last, to the
foundation.
if one car pass on the bridge,
here is the sequence of force
transmission for the
suspension bridge:
1. to the deck;
2. to the suspender;
3. to the main cable;
4. to the bridge tower;
5. and also is the last, to the
foundation.
ANTICLASTIC STRUCTURES
1 Opposing strings
stabilize a point in space
2 Several opposing strings
stabilize several points
3 Anticlastic curvature
stabilizes a membrane
TYPES OF FABRIC STRUCTURES
• Saddle roof
• Mast supported
• Arch supported
• Point supported
• Combinations
SADDLE ROOF
• Four or more point system when the fabric
is stretched between a set of alternating
high and low points
MAST SUPPORTED
• Tent - like structures containing one or more
peaks supported by poles (masts) or a
compression ring that connects the fabric to
the central support.
ARCH SUPPORTED
• Curved compression members are used as the
main supporting elements and cross arches
are used for lateral stability.
COMBINATIONS
• Combination of several support types.
INCLUDE CURVATURE , SADDLE SHAPES
IT INCLUDES:
ARCH SHAPE
WAVE SHAPE
POINT SHAPE
ARCH SHAPE
WAVE SHAPE
POINT SHAPE
SADDLE SHAPE
Swiss Expo 64 Lausanne
Architect: Saugey / Schierle
Engineer: Froadvaux et Weber
• 26 restaurants featured regional cuisines
• Symbolized sailing and mountain peaks
Saddle
Skating rink Munich
Architect: Ackermann
Engineer: Schlaich / Bergermann
• Prismatic steel truss arch, 100
m span
• Anticlastic cable nets
• Wood slats
• Translucent fabric
Arch
Point Shapes
1 Mast punctures fabric
2 Radial cables
3 Ring with radial cables
4 Loop cable
5 Dish top
6 Eye cable
7 Twin mast rows
8 Three mast rows
9 Suspension cables
10 Supporting cables
German Pavilion, Montreal Expo 1967
Architect: Rolf Gutbrot / Frei Otto
Engineer: Fritz Leonhard
Retractable umbrellas Medina
Architect: Bodo Rush
PENUMATIC STRUCTURES
AIR INFLATED STRUCTURES
Silverdome
Pontiac,
STADIUM
TRUSSED STRUCTURES:
Stadium roof Oldenburg, Germany
Engineer: Schlaich Bergermann
Cable truss & anticlastic membrane panels
MATERIAL FOR TENSILE MEMBRANE:
Structural Fabric
Structural fabric is the material that defines lightweight tensile structures.
Requirements
As a primary structural element, it must have the strength to span
between supporting elements, carry snow and wind loads, and be safe to
walk on.
As enclosure element, it needs to be airtight, waterproof, fire resistant and
durable.
As daily use element, it requires to transmit daylight, reflect heat, control
sound, and be easy to keep clean.
Sample Materials
Fiberglass, Polyester Cloth, PVC, Teflon.
• PVC
• Less expensive
• 15 to 20 year life span
• Easy to erect
• SILICON GLASS
• Higher tensile strength
• Brittle, subject to damage from flexing
• 30+ year life span
• TEFLON GLASS
• Similar to silicon glass, less brittle.
TYPES OF FABRIC MEMBRANES
MEMBRANE
Forms the enclosure of the structure. Connections can be glued
or heat welded.
• Connection to concrete foundation pillar
• MAST SUPPORTED
BASE PLATE
Rigid Structural Elements
Steel Frame Rigid structural elements, such as arches, are to support the flexible
fabric and cable membrane, generate its peaks, form its edges.
Requirements
The rigid elements in tensile structures must be strong, light, reliable,
readily available, easy to fabricate, transport .
Sample Materials
Steel, Reinforced Concrete,Laminated Wood, Aluminum.
STEEL ROOF
LAMINATED WOOD ARCHES
BALE RING / MEMBRANE PLATE
• Provide a link between the membrane and structural elements..
– Bale rings are used at the top of conical shapes.
– Membrane plates accept centenary cables and pin connection
hardware.
SPECIALIZED HARDWARE
Tensioner
Extruded section with
membrane plate and
centenary cables
Tripod head with
centenary cables
Centenary cables at
a side connection
CABLE CLAMPS
WATER DRAINAGE VIA MEMBRANE PLATES
OPEN STRUCTURE
Cables
Cables serve a number of functions in tensile structure
applications:
reinforcement of the fabric where the spans and stresses get too
large;
linear tension support elements along edges;
tie-backs and stays to stabilize rigid support element.
Requirements
The cables need to be light, high-strength and flexible to some
extent.
Sample Materials
High Strength Bridge Strand, Steel,
Glass Fiber.
High-strength Steel CablE
GRID SHOWS
THE BASE OF
CABLE IN
STRUCTURES
ADVANTAGES FABRIC TENSILE STRUCTURE
One of the main advantages of fabric structure is that you can install it rapidly and easily.
Tension fabric buildings provide abundant daytime lighting that is bright and natural,
the interior of a fabric structure is an inviting environment that people, plants and animals
thrive in.
Fabric buildings are Acoustics exceptional; no sounds of pelting rain.
Fabric buildings have Low cost per square foot, Initial investment is low.
Fabric buildings are self cleaning; never needs painting; dust, dirt, pollutants wash off with
Water no rotting parts to replace.
Fabric structures are durable, corrosion resistance. salt, fertilizer and other corrosive materials
have virtually no effect on polyethylene fabric.
Flexibility, when a large clearspan building with tall overhead clearances is needed,
a fabric structure is an economical solution.
SOLAR BEHAVIOR
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
• Longer life cycles of materials.
• Materials can be re-used in form.
• Most materials are completely recyclable.
• Less impact on site.
• Less construction debris after demolition.
There are many great advantages and functional benefits of tensile membrane
structures and here are few reasons why:
Flexible Design Aesthetics - Tensile membrane structures provide virtually
unlimited designs of distinctive elegant forms that can be realized because of the
unique flexible characteristics of membrane resulting in an iconic and unique
structure or feature for any building owner, city or even region.
Outstanding Translucency – In daylight, fabric membrane translucency offers soft
diffused naturally lit spaces reducing the interior lighting costs while at night,
artificial lighting creates an ambient exterior luminescence.
Excellent Durability – With several different membranes in the market place such
as PTFE fiberglass, ETFE film, PVC, and ePTFE, the durability and longevity of
tensile membrane structures have been proven.
ADVANTAGES
Lightweight Nature - The lightweight nature of membrane is a cost effective
solution that requires less structural steel to support the roof compared to
conventional building materials, enabling long spans of column-free space.
Low Maintenance – Tensile membrane systems are somewhat unique in that they
require minimal maintenance when compared to an equivalent-sized conventional
building.
Cost Benefits – Most tensile membrane structures have high sun reflectivity and
low absorption of sunlight, thus resulting in less energy used within a building and
ultimately reducing electrical energy costs.
Design process for
membrane structures:
01 . Form finding
Establish the
equilibrium where the
architectural idea and
structural idea should
converge to a point
which is both
aesthetically pleasing
and structurally
efficient.
Consider the issue
related to chosen
material so
manufacture are
involved from first day
of design.
02. Static analysis:
Predicting the stress and
development which rise in the
tensioned surface due to the
presence of external load such
as snow or wind.
03. Patterning:
The three dimensional surface,
found by the means of the
form finding , is flattened
obtaining a two dimensional
cutting pattern for
manufacturing of fabric.
04. Dynamic analysis:
Evaluation of the interaction
between a fluctuating external
load and the structure.

More Related Content

PPTX
Tensile structures
PPTX
Tensile structures
PPT
Tensile Fabric Structures
PDF
Shell structure
PPT
Tent structure
PPTX
Space frames!
PPTX
Folded plates
PPTX
Energy efficient buildings
Tensile structures
Tensile structures
Tensile Fabric Structures
Shell structure
Tent structure
Space frames!
Folded plates
Energy efficient buildings

What's hot (20)

PPT
Pneumatic structures
PPTX
Space frames
PDF
Space frame
PPTX
Tensile structures
PPT
Cable systems - form active structure system
PPTX
Long span structure
PPTX
dome and vault
PDF
Tensile structures and Pneumatic Structures
PDF
Shell structures- advanced building construction
PPTX
FOLDED PLATES AND SHELL STRUCTURES
PPTX
Tensile
PDF
Folded plate structure
PPTX
Domes
PPTX
steel roof truss
PDF
Geodesic Dome and Ribbed Dome
PDF
Pneumatic structures
PPTX
Double skin facade
PPTX
Long span structures in Concrete and Steel
PPTX
Folded plate structure
PPTX
curtain wall -skin of building
Pneumatic structures
Space frames
Space frame
Tensile structures
Cable systems - form active structure system
Long span structure
dome and vault
Tensile structures and Pneumatic Structures
Shell structures- advanced building construction
FOLDED PLATES AND SHELL STRUCTURES
Tensile
Folded plate structure
Domes
steel roof truss
Geodesic Dome and Ribbed Dome
Pneumatic structures
Double skin facade
Long span structures in Concrete and Steel
Folded plate structure
curtain wall -skin of building
Ad

Similar to Tensile structures for architects (20)

PPTX
Tensile
PPTX
Surface active systems
PPTX
group10.pptx
PDF
6 GEODESIC DOMES.pdf
PPT
steel structure OF THIRD YEAR ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS
PDF
Form Active system
PPTX
BUILDING TECH 5_06.pptx
PPTX
FERROCRETE - MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS
PDF
The tents structure system
PPTX
advanced construction
PDF
Long Span Structures used in Buildings and Factories
PPTX
High Rise Building Structure Systems Types
PPTX
Space frames-modular construction technology
PDF
JANNATUL NAIEM (ID-201932030022)building technology exam.pdf
PPTX
Precast concrete
PPTX
Chapters-3,4,5.pptx
PPTX
Steel Structures - Building technology.pptx
PPTX
Formwork
PDF
Grid waffle slab
PPTX
High rise construction
Tensile
Surface active systems
group10.pptx
6 GEODESIC DOMES.pdf
steel structure OF THIRD YEAR ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS
Form Active system
BUILDING TECH 5_06.pptx
FERROCRETE - MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS
The tents structure system
advanced construction
Long Span Structures used in Buildings and Factories
High Rise Building Structure Systems Types
Space frames-modular construction technology
JANNATUL NAIEM (ID-201932030022)building technology exam.pdf
Precast concrete
Chapters-3,4,5.pptx
Steel Structures - Building technology.pptx
Formwork
Grid waffle slab
High rise construction
Ad

More from Deepak KUMAR (7)

PDF
Italian Renaissance 15th - Early 19th Century
PPT
Causes of the Great Depression.ppt
PDF
Lecture HOA Indo Aryan.pdf
PDF
Mahatma gandhis vision for the future of india the role of enli
PDF
Lbz report
PPTX
Fire regulations for buildings
PDF
Shadow economies all over the world
Italian Renaissance 15th - Early 19th Century
Causes of the Great Depression.ppt
Lecture HOA Indo Aryan.pdf
Mahatma gandhis vision for the future of india the role of enli
Lbz report
Fire regulations for buildings
Shadow economies all over the world

Recently uploaded (20)

PDF
Skskkxiixijsjsnwkwkaksixindndndjdjdjsjjssk
PPT
WHY_R12 Uaafafafpgradeaffafafafaffff.ppt
PDF
Chalkpiece Annual Report from 2019 To 2025
PDF
YOW2022-BNE-MinimalViableArchitecture.pdf
PPTX
iec ppt- ppt on iec pulmonary rehabilitation 1.pptx
PPTX
Entrepreneur intro, origin, process, method
PPTX
HPE Aruba-master-icon-library_052722.pptx
PPTX
Causes of Flooding by Slidesgo sdnl;asnjdl;asj.pptx
PPTX
EDP Competencies-types, process, explanation
PDF
SEVA- Fashion designing-Presentation.pdf
PPTX
DOC-20250430-WA0014._20250714_235747_0000.pptx
PPT
UNIT I- Yarn, types, explanation, process
PPTX
CLASSIFICATION OF YARN- process, explanation
PPTX
2. Competency Based Interviewing - September'16.pptx
PDF
Urban Design Final Project-Site Analysis
PDF
Test slideshare presentation for blog post
PPTX
YV PROFILE PROJECTS PROFILE PRES. DESIGN
PPTX
NEW EIA PART B - Group 5 (Section 50).pptx
DOCX
A Contemporary Luxury Villa in Dubai Jumeirah-2.docx
PPT
Machine printing techniques and plangi dyeing
Skskkxiixijsjsnwkwkaksixindndndjdjdjsjjssk
WHY_R12 Uaafafafpgradeaffafafafaffff.ppt
Chalkpiece Annual Report from 2019 To 2025
YOW2022-BNE-MinimalViableArchitecture.pdf
iec ppt- ppt on iec pulmonary rehabilitation 1.pptx
Entrepreneur intro, origin, process, method
HPE Aruba-master-icon-library_052722.pptx
Causes of Flooding by Slidesgo sdnl;asnjdl;asj.pptx
EDP Competencies-types, process, explanation
SEVA- Fashion designing-Presentation.pdf
DOC-20250430-WA0014._20250714_235747_0000.pptx
UNIT I- Yarn, types, explanation, process
CLASSIFICATION OF YARN- process, explanation
2. Competency Based Interviewing - September'16.pptx
Urban Design Final Project-Site Analysis
Test slideshare presentation for blog post
YV PROFILE PROJECTS PROFILE PRES. DESIGN
NEW EIA PART B - Group 5 (Section 50).pptx
A Contemporary Luxury Villa in Dubai Jumeirah-2.docx
Machine printing techniques and plangi dyeing

Tensile structures for architects

  • 2. “I am concerned with the way in which the language of engineering can be turned into the language of the body,” Anish Kapoor PVC TENSILE STRUCTURE COMPLETED IN 2009 LOCATION Gibbs Farm, Kaipara Harbour, New Zealand FABRIC AREA 4,300M2 / 46,284FT2 FABRIC TYPE PVC - FERRARI 1202T2 RED ARCHITECT Structure Design World famous sculptor selects Structurflex
  • 4. Bedouin (a nomadic Arab) Tents History
  • 6. •And there’s evidence that the Romans even covered the Colosseum with massive canopies, hoisted by an intricate system of pulleys, to protect the audience from the elements. •But they really came into their own in the last half of the 20th century, when designs like this by Germany’s Frei Otto.
  • 7. •Large flat pieces of fabric are very poor at resisting loads. •Imagine four of you each pulling on the strings laced through a tennis ball. Fig 1. A fifth person pushing down on the ball can deflect it easily. •Fig 2. The ball is now locked in space. Apply this principle to fabric and you have created ‘anticlastic’ double curvature. Sounds grand but actually is simply derived from one of three fabric shapes; the hypar, the cone and the barrel. Why tensiles are the shape they are?
  • 8. The world's first tensile steel Shell by Vladimir Shukhov (during construction), Nizhny Novgorod, 1895
  • 9. Tensioned Fabric Structure: A structure where the exterior shell is a fabric material spread over a framework. The fabric is maintained in tension in all directions to provide stability. or Tensile Structures Tension roofs or canopies are those in which every part of the structure is loaded only in tension, with no requirement to resist compression or bending forces. DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
  • 10. PIER SIX PAVILION Baltimore, Maryland OPEN STRUCTURE
  • 12. • Unique designs • Lightweight and flexible • Environmentally sensitive • High strength weight ratio • Little to no rigidity • Loss of tension is dangerous for stability • Thermal values limit use DISADVANTAGESADVANTAGES • FABRIC STRUCTURES CANNOT TAKE HEAVY WEATHER CONDITIONS FALSE • FABRIC IS ELASTIC AND STRETCHES Fabric has a strong tensile strength and will creep (stretch very slightly) only a few percent over 20 years of use. COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
  • 13. Types of structures: •Stayed •Suspended • Anticlastic • Pneumatic •Trussed Types of structure with significant tension members
  • 14. STAYED: To span railroad trucks underneath, the truss roof is suspended by stay cables. McCormick exhibit hall Chicago Architect/Engineer: SOM
  • 15. Renault Center Swindon, UK Architect: Norman Foster
  • 16. SUSPENDED STRUCTURES: GOLDEN GATE Bridge,sanfrancisco, USA
  • 17. Oakland Coliseum (1967) Architect: SOM Engineer: Ammann and Whitney • Diameter 400 ft • Outer concrete compression ring • Inner steel tension ring • Steel strands for main support • Concrete ribs resist unbalanced load • X-columns resist lateral seismic load
  • 18. here is the sequence of force transmission for the cable-stayed bridge: 1. to the deck; 2. to the stay cable; 3. to the bridge tower; 4. and also is the last, to the foundation. if one car pass on the bridge, here is the sequence of force transmission for the suspension bridge: 1. to the deck; 2. to the suspender; 3. to the main cable; 4. to the bridge tower; 5. and also is the last, to the foundation.
  • 19. ANTICLASTIC STRUCTURES 1 Opposing strings stabilize a point in space 2 Several opposing strings stabilize several points 3 Anticlastic curvature stabilizes a membrane
  • 20. TYPES OF FABRIC STRUCTURES • Saddle roof • Mast supported • Arch supported • Point supported • Combinations
  • 21. SADDLE ROOF • Four or more point system when the fabric is stretched between a set of alternating high and low points
  • 22. MAST SUPPORTED • Tent - like structures containing one or more peaks supported by poles (masts) or a compression ring that connects the fabric to the central support.
  • 23. ARCH SUPPORTED • Curved compression members are used as the main supporting elements and cross arches are used for lateral stability.
  • 24. COMBINATIONS • Combination of several support types.
  • 25. INCLUDE CURVATURE , SADDLE SHAPES IT INCLUDES: ARCH SHAPE WAVE SHAPE POINT SHAPE ARCH SHAPE WAVE SHAPE POINT SHAPE SADDLE SHAPE
  • 26. Swiss Expo 64 Lausanne Architect: Saugey / Schierle Engineer: Froadvaux et Weber • 26 restaurants featured regional cuisines • Symbolized sailing and mountain peaks Saddle
  • 27. Skating rink Munich Architect: Ackermann Engineer: Schlaich / Bergermann • Prismatic steel truss arch, 100 m span • Anticlastic cable nets • Wood slats • Translucent fabric Arch
  • 28. Point Shapes 1 Mast punctures fabric 2 Radial cables 3 Ring with radial cables 4 Loop cable 5 Dish top 6 Eye cable 7 Twin mast rows 8 Three mast rows 9 Suspension cables 10 Supporting cables
  • 29. German Pavilion, Montreal Expo 1967 Architect: Rolf Gutbrot / Frei Otto Engineer: Fritz Leonhard
  • 31. PENUMATIC STRUCTURES AIR INFLATED STRUCTURES Silverdome Pontiac, STADIUM
  • 32. TRUSSED STRUCTURES: Stadium roof Oldenburg, Germany Engineer: Schlaich Bergermann Cable truss & anticlastic membrane panels
  • 33. MATERIAL FOR TENSILE MEMBRANE: Structural Fabric Structural fabric is the material that defines lightweight tensile structures. Requirements As a primary structural element, it must have the strength to span between supporting elements, carry snow and wind loads, and be safe to walk on. As enclosure element, it needs to be airtight, waterproof, fire resistant and durable. As daily use element, it requires to transmit daylight, reflect heat, control sound, and be easy to keep clean. Sample Materials Fiberglass, Polyester Cloth, PVC, Teflon.
  • 34. • PVC • Less expensive • 15 to 20 year life span • Easy to erect • SILICON GLASS • Higher tensile strength • Brittle, subject to damage from flexing • 30+ year life span • TEFLON GLASS • Similar to silicon glass, less brittle. TYPES OF FABRIC MEMBRANES
  • 35. MEMBRANE Forms the enclosure of the structure. Connections can be glued or heat welded.
  • 36. • Connection to concrete foundation pillar • MAST SUPPORTED BASE PLATE
  • 37. Rigid Structural Elements Steel Frame Rigid structural elements, such as arches, are to support the flexible fabric and cable membrane, generate its peaks, form its edges. Requirements The rigid elements in tensile structures must be strong, light, reliable, readily available, easy to fabricate, transport . Sample Materials Steel, Reinforced Concrete,Laminated Wood, Aluminum. STEEL ROOF LAMINATED WOOD ARCHES
  • 38. BALE RING / MEMBRANE PLATE • Provide a link between the membrane and structural elements.. – Bale rings are used at the top of conical shapes. – Membrane plates accept centenary cables and pin connection hardware.
  • 39. SPECIALIZED HARDWARE Tensioner Extruded section with membrane plate and centenary cables Tripod head with centenary cables Centenary cables at a side connection
  • 41. WATER DRAINAGE VIA MEMBRANE PLATES OPEN STRUCTURE
  • 42. Cables Cables serve a number of functions in tensile structure applications: reinforcement of the fabric where the spans and stresses get too large; linear tension support elements along edges; tie-backs and stays to stabilize rigid support element. Requirements The cables need to be light, high-strength and flexible to some extent. Sample Materials High Strength Bridge Strand, Steel, Glass Fiber.
  • 43. High-strength Steel CablE GRID SHOWS THE BASE OF CABLE IN STRUCTURES
  • 44. ADVANTAGES FABRIC TENSILE STRUCTURE One of the main advantages of fabric structure is that you can install it rapidly and easily. Tension fabric buildings provide abundant daytime lighting that is bright and natural, the interior of a fabric structure is an inviting environment that people, plants and animals thrive in. Fabric buildings are Acoustics exceptional; no sounds of pelting rain. Fabric buildings have Low cost per square foot, Initial investment is low. Fabric buildings are self cleaning; never needs painting; dust, dirt, pollutants wash off with Water no rotting parts to replace. Fabric structures are durable, corrosion resistance. salt, fertilizer and other corrosive materials have virtually no effect on polyethylene fabric. Flexibility, when a large clearspan building with tall overhead clearances is needed, a fabric structure is an economical solution.
  • 46. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT • Longer life cycles of materials. • Materials can be re-used in form. • Most materials are completely recyclable. • Less impact on site. • Less construction debris after demolition.
  • 47. There are many great advantages and functional benefits of tensile membrane structures and here are few reasons why: Flexible Design Aesthetics - Tensile membrane structures provide virtually unlimited designs of distinctive elegant forms that can be realized because of the unique flexible characteristics of membrane resulting in an iconic and unique structure or feature for any building owner, city or even region. Outstanding Translucency – In daylight, fabric membrane translucency offers soft diffused naturally lit spaces reducing the interior lighting costs while at night, artificial lighting creates an ambient exterior luminescence. Excellent Durability – With several different membranes in the market place such as PTFE fiberglass, ETFE film, PVC, and ePTFE, the durability and longevity of tensile membrane structures have been proven. ADVANTAGES
  • 48. Lightweight Nature - The lightweight nature of membrane is a cost effective solution that requires less structural steel to support the roof compared to conventional building materials, enabling long spans of column-free space. Low Maintenance – Tensile membrane systems are somewhat unique in that they require minimal maintenance when compared to an equivalent-sized conventional building. Cost Benefits – Most tensile membrane structures have high sun reflectivity and low absorption of sunlight, thus resulting in less energy used within a building and ultimately reducing electrical energy costs.
  • 49. Design process for membrane structures: 01 . Form finding Establish the equilibrium where the architectural idea and structural idea should converge to a point which is both aesthetically pleasing and structurally efficient. Consider the issue related to chosen material so manufacture are involved from first day of design.
  • 50. 02. Static analysis: Predicting the stress and development which rise in the tensioned surface due to the presence of external load such as snow or wind. 03. Patterning: The three dimensional surface, found by the means of the form finding , is flattened obtaining a two dimensional cutting pattern for manufacturing of fabric. 04. Dynamic analysis: Evaluation of the interaction between a fluctuating external load and the structure.