Tensile Structures

Stayed
Tensile structures

Suspended

Anticlastic
Prof Schierle

Pneumatic

Cable truss
1

Stayed

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

McCormick exhibit hall Chicago

Architect/Engineer: SOM
To span railroad trucks underneath, the truss roof is
suspended by stay cables from concrete pylons.
1
Axon
2
Section
3
Center joint
4
Exterior joint
A Pylon top
B Stay cable
C Truss web bar
D Stay bracket
E Edge stay, resists wind uplift

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

Imos factory, Newport, UK

Architect: Richard Rogers
Engineer: Anthony Hunt

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

Patscenter Princeton
Architect: Richard Rogers
Engineer: Ove Arup
Stays resist both gravity load and wind uplift

Design alternates

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

Lines meet = concentric joints

Renault Center Swindon, UK

Architect: Norman Foster

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

Suspended

Golden Gate Bridge, photo courtesy Peter Craig

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

Suspension span/sag ratios:

Small sag = large stress
Large sag = small stress but tall supports
Optimal span/sag ratio = 10

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

New York bridges:

George Washington Bridge, top
Roebling Bridge, bottom & left
(diagonal hangers resist deformation)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Roebling

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

Stability issues:
1 Point load deformation
2 Wind deformation
3 Stabilizing cable to resist wind uplift
4 Dead load to resist wind uplift
(increases seismic load)
6 US pavilion Expo 57, Brussels
Circular compression ring is
efficient to resist lateral thrust

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

10

Oakland Coliseum (1967)

Architect: SOM
Engineer: Ammann and Whitney

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

Diameter 400 ft
Outer concrete compression ring
Inner steel tension ring
Steel strands for main support
Concrete ribs resist unbalanced load
X-columns resist seismic load

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Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

12

Dulles Airport Terminal

Washington, DC (1963)
Architect: Eero Saarinen
Engineer: Ammann & Whitney
Initial size: 150x600
Height @ street side: 105
Height @ runway side: 65
Roof features:
Concrete deck
Steel strands 1
Edge beams
Pylons @ ~ 50 (lean back
to counteract roof thrust)

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

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 Dulles Airport Terminal

Left:
Initial structure
Below: 1990 expansion

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

14

Lufthansa aircraft hanger, Frankfurt

Architect: Beckert & Beckert
Engineer: Bomhard
The maintenance hanger houses up to
six 747 jets in a 100x270 m area
Pre-stressed suspended oncrete bands
Linear skylights
Only 10 m sag (span/depth ratio 13.5
due to flight safety height limit)
Inclined ballasts resist roof trust
Straight strands restrain ballasts

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

15

Exhibit Hall Hanover

Architect: Thomas Herzog
Engineer: Schlaich Bergermann
Roof features:
3x40 cm steel suspender band

Prefab wood panels with ballast gravel

Skylights provide lighting and ventilation
(prevent balanced suspender support)
Prestressed glass wall avoids buckling of
mullions due to roof deflection

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

16

Anticlastic

Anticlastic = saddle shape, inverse curvatures

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

17

Anticlastic Surface
1 Opposing strings
stabilize a point in space
2 Several opposing strings
stabilize several points
3

Anticlastic curvature
stabilizes a membrane

Membrane shear
causes wrinkles in fabric
Stress without wrinkles

5
6
7
Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

HP-surface
Quadratic equation
Minimal surface
Differential equation
18

Minimal Surface
Tensile structures

The minimal surface conditions:

Minimum surface area between any boundary

Equal and opposite curvature at any point

Uniform stress throughout the surface

f1/f2 = A/B
(Schierle, 1977 *)
Minimal surface equations (Schierle, 1977 *)
Y= f1(X/S1)(f1+f2)/f1 + X tan
Y= f2 (Z/S2)(f1+f2)/f2
* Published in
Journal of Optimization Theory and Application
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00932303
Minimal surface vs. Hyperbolic Paraboloid
1 Minimal surface of square plan
2 Hyperbolic Paraboloid of square plan
3 Minimal surface of rhomboid plan
(membrane center below mid-height)
4 Hyperbolic Paraboloid of rhomboid plan
(membrane center at mid-height)
Prof Schierle

19

Test model

Fiber Orientation (Schierle, 1968)

1 Orthogonal (causes shear stress)
2 Principal curvature (avoids shear stress)
3 Principal curvature vs.
4 Generating lines
5 Principal curvature orientation (small deflections)
6 Generating line orientation (large deflections)
Lesson:

Orient fibers in principal curvature

Avoid generating line orientation

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

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Edge Conditions

1, 2 Edge Cable

3, 4 Edge Arch

5, 6 Edge Frame

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

21

Edge Cable

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

22

Edge Arch

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

23

Edge Frame

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

24

Surface Conditions

Tensile structures

Saddle shapes

Arch shapes

Wave shapes

Point shapes

Prof Schierle

25

Saddle Shapes

Tensile structures

Square / cable edge

Hexagon / cable edge

Square / arch edge

Oval / arch edge

Square / beam edge

Hexagon / beam edge

Prof Schierle

26

Saddle Shapes

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

27

Expo 64 Lausanne
Architect: Saugey / Schierle
Engineer: Froadvaux et Weber

Tensile structures

26 restaurants featured regional cuisines

Symbolized sailing and mountain peaks

Prof Schierle

28

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

29

Arch Shapes

1, 2 Single arch / edge cable

3, 4 Twin arch / edge cable

Tensile structures

Twin arch / edge arch

Single arch / edge arch

Prof Schierle

30

Arch Shapes

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

31

Skating rink Munich

Architect: Ackermann
Engineer: Schlaich / Bergermann

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

Prismatic steel truss arch, 100 m span

Anticlastic cable nets
Wood slats
Translucent fabric

32

Wave Shapes
1
2
3
4

5
6
5

Tensile structures

Ridge/valley cables,
cable edge
Ridge/valley cables,
beam edge
Ridge/valley beams,
beam edge
Ridge beam/valley cable
beam edge

Ridge/valley cables,
closed end
Ridge/valley cables,
circular plan

Prof Schierle

33

Wave Shapes

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

34

Circular Wave Shapes

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

35

Point Shapes
1 Mast punctures fabric
2 Radial cables
3
4

Ring with radial cables

Loop cable

5
6

Dish top
Eye cable

7
8

Twin mast rows

Three mast rows

9 Suspension cables
10 Supporting cables

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

36

Point Shapes

Sea World Africa USA

Architect: Schierle
Engineer: ASI

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

37

Tensile structures
Prof Schierle
38

Engineer: Fritz Leonhard

Architect: Rolf Gutbrot / Frei Otto

German Pavilion, Montreal Expo 1967

German Pavilion Montreal Expo 67

Architect: Rolf Gutbrod & Frei Otto
Engineer: Leonhard & Andrea
Cable net of 75x75 cm meshes
Translucent membrane
suspended from cable net

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

39

Retractable umbrellas Medina

Architect: Bodo Rush

Retractable roof Bad Hersfeld

Architect: Frei Otto

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

40

Design Process

Stretch fabric models

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

41

Design Process computer models Cutting patterns by triangulation

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

42

Design optimization
Edge and surface curvature
(Schierle, 1971)
Usual optimum
L/f = 10
L = span
f = sag
L

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

43

Erection

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

44

Details

Edge cable
Prestress turn buckle
Fabric holder webbing

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

45

Balance Forces

Balanced
Tensile structures

Unbalanced
Prof Schierle

46

Balance Forces

Balanced tension ring

Unbalanced
Tension ring
requires
costly
footings

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

47

Olympic facilities Munich

Architect: Guenter Behnisch / Frei Otto
Engineer: Fritz Leonhard
Design competition model

Design metaphor:
Spider web over landscape

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

48

Olympic Stadium Munich

Architect: Guenter Behnisch
Engineer: Leonhardt und Andrae

The roof consists of 7 saddle-shape cable nets

Anticlastic curvature provides stability:

Concave cables support gravity

Convex cables resist wind uplift

Cable net supported by:

Masts at rear

Ring cable

Flying buttress

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

49

Stretch fabric model

Piano wire model

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

50

Tensile structures

edge cable soil anchor

edge cable

Cable net of 75 cm (2.5 ft) square mesh

(flat squares formed anticlastic rhomboids)

Prof Schierle

51

Cable net lifted into space

Flat squares meshes deformed into

rhomboids to assume anticlastic curvature

Twin cables facilitate the deformation

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

52

Cable net assumed anticlastic shape

Anticlastic net with acrylic glass roof

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

53

Arena roof
Translucent skin below cable net:
Two layers of translucent fabric
4 thermal insulation between fabric

Glass wall with cantilever trusses

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

54

Swim arena
Point shape cable net (high and low points)
Translucent skin below net consists of:
Two layers of translucent fabric
4 thermal insulation between fabric

External mast support

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

55

Acrylic panels of 3x3m (10x10) with

neoprene joints are supported by
75x75 cm (2.5x2.5) net of twin cables

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

56

Cable details

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

57

Mast details

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

58

Pneumatic

Air Inflated
Fuji pavilion Osaka Expo 1970

Air Supported

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

59

Pneumatic structure types:

Left: Air inflated
Right: Air supported
1 Air inflated cushion
2 Air inflated vault
3 Air inflated dome
4 Air inflated dome grid
5 Air supported dome
6 Air supported vault
7 Air supported vault with cables
8 Air supported dome grid

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

60

US Pavilion Expo Osaka (1970)

Architect: Davis Brody
Engineer: Geiger, Berger
Size: 465 x 265 ft
Steel cables
Teflon-coated fiberglass fabric

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

61

Silverdome Pontiac, MI (1975)

Architect: O'Dell Hewlett & Luckenbach
Engineer: Geiger/Berger
Building data:
Capacity: 90,000
Size: 770 x 600
Air pressure: 5 psf
10 - 75 hp fans
15 - 100 hp fans
50 revolving doors
93 pressure balance doors

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

62

Cable Truss
G G Schierle & UC Berkeley students

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

63

Cable trusses
1 Lintel trusses
2 Concave trusses
3 Lintel truss with compression braces
4 Lintel truss with compression struts
5 Concave truss with tension braces
6 Concave truss with tension struts
7 Concave/lintel truss with braces
8 Concave/lintel truss with struts
9 Gable truss with radial strut
10 Gable truss with center compression struts
11 Radial brace truss
12 Flat chord truss with compression struts
Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

64

Auditorium Utica, NY
Architect: Gehron & Seltzer
Engineer: Lev Zetlin

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

65

Cable truss test models

Left top:
Left bottom:
Below:

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

2-way lintel truss

Flat truss
Truss dome

66

Flat chord truss

load bearing mode

Tensile structures

Four-bay cable truss

Polygon supporting P1, P2

Polygons supporting P1, P2, P3

Externally stabilized truss

Internally stabilized truss

Prof Schierle

67

 Olympic pool
4 multipurpose gyms
Cable trusses, 120 span

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

68

Loyola University Pavilion

Architect: Kahn, Kappe, Lottery, Boccato
Engineer: Reiss and Brown
Consultant: Dr Schierle
Spanning the long way provides openings
to join outdoor seating for large events

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

69

Watts Tower Crescent

Architect: Ado / Schierle
Engineer: ASI

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

70

Stadium roof Oldenburg, Germany

Engineer: Schlaich Bergermann
Cable truss & anticlastic membrane panels

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

71

Tensile structures are fun

Tensile structures

Prof Schierle

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