Report on Tensile structures

Cable Tensile Structure:

 A cable is a flexible structural component that offers no resistance when compressed or bent in a curved shape.
Technically we can say cable has zero bending rigidity.
 It can only support tensile loading.
 Cables are often used in engineering structures for support and to transmit load from one point to another when used to
support suspension roofs, bridges and trolley wheels, cables form the main load carrying element in the structure.
 In analysis of cables the weight of itself cable is rejected . We assume that cable is flexible and inextensible. Due to its
flexibility cables offers no resistance to shear or bending.
 Being inextensible the cable has constant length before and after the load is applied. As a result once the load is applied
the geometry of cable remains fixed.
 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.
Membrane Tensile 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.

Advantages of tensile structure

 Unique designs
 Lightweight and flexible
 Environmentally sensitive
 High strength weight ratio

Disadvantages of tensile structure

 Little to no rigidity
Loss of tension is dangerous for stability
Thermal values limit use
Types of cable structures:
1. Single cable structure:
They are series of parallel cables to support roof surface. Structure should be carefully designed for uplift due to wind,
flutter and vibrations particularly in tensile structures. This can be reduced by increasing dead load, anchoring primary
cabled with secondary transverse cables.

2. Double cable structure:

They have upper and lower cables of different curvatures reverse to each other. They are pretensioned by ties or
compression struts to make the system rigid and resistant to vibrations. One set of cables counteracts wind induced uplift
and other with reverse curvature resists gravity loads from above.

Types of cable structures with respect to tension members:

Membrane tensile structure: 1. Anticlastic
2. Pneumatic

Cable tensile structure: 3. Stayed

4. Suspended
1. Anticlastic structures:
It is a tensile surface, which carry only tension and
no compression or bending, rely on double curvature for their
stability. Stability is provided by the opposition of two curvatures
which enable the surface to be tensioned without losing its form.
 Anticlastic shapes tend to be formed by steel cables and masts
or arches pulling them into tension.
 Whilst the fabric itself may be very thin, the
tensile force imposed on it to ensure it remains stable
under load can be high, and so the
supporting structure required to transfer loads to
the foundations can be significant.
 Tensile surfaces can be used in buildings to create thin,
long span enclosures, such as roofs for sports stadium,
shopping centers, atria and so on.
 Typically they are constructed using a PVC coated
polyester or PTFE coated glass fabric, typically just 1 mm thick.
Types of Anticlastic structures
1) Saddle roof- A saddle roof is a roof form which follows a
convex curve about one axis and a concave curve about the
other. The hyperbolic paraboloid form has been used for
roofs at various times since it is easily constructed from
straight sections of lumber, steel, or other conventional
materials.

2) Mast supported roof - Tent-like in appearance, mast

supported structures typically have one or sometimes
several peaks that are supported by either interior or
perimeter masts. The fabric is attached to the interior mast
by special connections, usually a bale ring or cable loop.
The peaks of a mast supported structure are determined by
the design and how the fabric is attached.
3) Arch supported roof - Arch supported structures utilize
curved members placed parallel to each other for their main
support, obviating the need for additional interior supports.
Cross arches or diagonal bracing are often used.

4) Point supported roof - Point-supported structures are

tensile structures with at least four points of attachment with
either straight or curved edges that produce a clear span
avoiding a center mast. An exterior frame, adjacent building, or
perimeter masts support the fabric. Several point-supported
structures can share a common mast.

5) Combination - This is a combination of several support

systems like saddle, mast, arch, point supported roof and
includes arch shape, wave shape, point shape.
2. Pneumatic structure:
Pneumatic structure, Membrane structure that is stabilized by
the pressure of compressed air. Air-supported structures are
supported by internal air pressure. The air pressure within this
bubble is increased slightly above normal atmospheric pressure
and maintained by compressors or fans.
 A network of cables stiffens the fabric, and the assembly is
supported by a rigid ring at the edge.
 Air locks are required at entrances to prevent loss of internal
air pressure.
 Pressure difference between the enclosed space and the
exterior are responsible for giving the building its shape and
its stability.
 The pressure should be uniformly distributed for structural
integrity.
 Use as covers for swimming pools, temporary warehouses,
and exhibition buildings.
Types of Pneumatic structure
1) Air supported structures - An air-supported (or air-
inflated) structure is any building that derives its structural
integrity from the use of internal pressurized air to inflate a
pliable material (i.e. structural fabric) envelope, so that air is
the main support of the structure, and where access is via
airlocks.

2) Air inflated structures - Round in shape because it

creates greatest volume for least amount of material.
Supporting frames consist of air under high pressure. Internal
pressure of building remains at atmospheric pressure. There
is no restrictions in no. & size of openings.
3. Stayed Cable structures:
 A cable-stayed bridge has one or more towers (or
pylons), from which cables support the bridge deck.

 There are two major classes of cable-stayed bridges:

harp and fan.
 In the harp or parallel design, the cables are nearly
parallel so that the height of their attachment to the
tower is proportional to the distance from the tower
to their mounting on the deck.
 In the fan design, the cables all connect to or pass
over the top of the towers.
 The fan design is structurally superior with minimum
moment applied to the towers but for practical
reasons the modified fan is preferred especially where
many cables are necessary. In the modified fan
arrangement the cables terminate near to the top of
the tower but are spaced from each other sufficiently
to allow better termination, improved environmental
protection, and good access to individual cables for
maintenance.
Load Bearing Mechanism Of Cable-Stayed Bridges
 In the cable-stayed bridge, the towers are the primary load-bearing structures which transmit the bridge
loads to the ground.
 A cantilever approach is often used to support the bridge deck near the towers, but lengths further from
them are supported by cables running directly to the towers.
 This has the disadvantage, compared to the suspension bridge, that the cables pull to the sides as opposed
to directly up, requiring the bridge deck to be stronger to resist the resulting horizontal compression loads;
but has the advantage of not requiring firm anchorages to resist the horizontal pull of the main cables of
the suspension bridge.
 By design all static horizontal forces of the cable-stayed bridge are balanced so that the supporting towers
do not tend to tilt or slide, needing only to resist horizontal forces from the live loads.
4. Suspended cable structure:
 A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck (the load-bearing portion) is hung below suspension cables on
vertical suspenders.
 This type of bridge has cables suspended between towers, plus vertical suspender cables that carry the weight of the
deck below, upon which traffic crosses.
 This arrangement allows the deck to be level or to arc upward for additional clearance.
 The main type of force in a suspension bridge are tension in cables and compression in the pillars.
 The suspension cables must be anchored at each end of the bridge, since any load applied to the bridge is transformed
into a tension in these main cables.
 The main cables continue beyond the pillars to deck-level supports, and further continue to connections with anchors in
the ground.
 The roadway is supported by vertical suspender cables or rods, called hangers.
 The bridge will usually have two smaller spans, running between either pair of pillars and the highway, which may be
supported by suspender cables or may use a truss bridge to make this connection.
 In the latter case there will be very little arc in the outboard main cables.
ADVANTAGES OF TENSILE MEMBRANE 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 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.
 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.
DISADVANTAGES OF TENSILE MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

 Poor performance ( Thermal & Acoustic )

 Exterior moisture and dehumidifier and address condensation
 Difficult making meaningful connections
 Easy to be damaged Fabric structures, if properly engineered and installed are virtually immune to damage and weather
properties. Providing that they are not likely to be vandalize or damage, they provide a reassuringly simple and durable
solution.
 Difficulty of Maintenance : Dirt can be clearly seen glass or polycarbonate, however the light diffusing properties of the
fabric mean that the surface dirt is not easily identified.
MATERIAL FOR TENSILE MEMBRANE:
 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 siliconglass, 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.
CONNECTION DETAILS (end connections)
CONNECTION DETAILS
DESIGN PROCESS FOR MEMBRANE STRUCTURE:
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.