Tensile Structure

SUSPENDED ROOF
STRUCTURES
Ar. C.N.Vaishnavi
Ar.M.Padma
Tensile structure
 A tensile structure is a construction of
elements carrying only tension and
no compression or bending.
 Tensile structures are the most common type
of thin-shell structures.
 Most tensile structures are supported by some
form of compression or bending elements, such
as masts, compression rings or beams.
 A tensile membrane structure is most often
used as a roof, as they can economically and
attractively span large distances.
Types of Suspended roof structures
 Flexible Membrane
 Cable Network
• Flexible membrane is generally used for

temporary structures.
• Cable network is more popularly used in

permanent structures.
 Perimeter compression
• Anchorages are required torings
resist the tension in
the cables.  Interior tension rings
 Heavy foundations
 Pile foundations
Types of structure with significant tension
members.
Three- Surface-
Linear
dimensional stressed
structures
structures structures
●
Bicycle wheel (can Prestressed
Suspension bridges
● ●
be used as a roof in
●
Draped cables
a horizontal membranes
●
Cable Pneumatically
orientation)
●
stayed beams or tr
usses
●
3D cable trusses stressed
●
Tensegrity structur membranes
●
Cable trusses
es
●
Straight tensioned ●
Tensairity structure
●
Gridshell
cables ●
Fabric structure
s
Types of Cable Network Systems
 Cable Supported/Stayed
 Cable Suspended
 Cable cum Air Supported Roofs.
Shapes of Cable
Suspended Systems
 Synclastic-Positive Gaussian
Curvature
 Anticlastic-Negative Gaussian
Curvature
 Surface of Single Curvature-Zero
Double layered
Gaussian cable Rare
Curvature-Very
systems can be used to form
synclastic or anticlastic
surfaces.
Cable Stayed Grid Work Cable supported Cantilever
roofs
Suspended Roof Suspended Roof Grid work

Membrane Structure
Cable Suspended Roofs can also be classified
as-
 Single Layered
 Double Layered
Single Layered
Double Layered
MATERIALS :
• Steel Cables : The high tensile strength of
steel combined with the efficiency of simple
tension, makes a steel cable the ideal structural
element to span large distances.
• Nylon and plastics are suitable only for

temporary structures, spanning small distances.
• Other structural members like masts,

compression rings, arches or beams and
compression struts may be of concrete or steel
preferably. Struts may also be of timber.
• Suspension Cables, because of their being

Cable Stayed Bridge
Millau Viaduct, France

Cable Suspended Bridge
Membrane structures
 Membrane structures are spatial structures made out of
tensioned membranes.The structural use of membranes can
be divided into following:
 pneumatic structures,
 tensile membrane structures
 cable domes.
 Either a cable frame or a skeleton frame can form the

structure that sustains the membrane.
 A membrane material has a natural tendency to curve, and

although it can endure tension, it cannot withstand
compression or bending.
 Synthetic fibres and glass fibres are now utilized and

 Membrane structures carry loads by membrane forces only, with no or
only insignificant bending.
 If tensile and compressive membrane forces are permitted, we speak of

shells.
 If the compressive forces are eliminated, we speak of tensile membrane

structures.
 Their aim is to actually ‘ realize the surface itself with a material which is
able to carry tensile forces only, in order to achieve extreme lightness or
even translucence.
 In order to eliminate the compressive forces in the membrane structure,

they are to be pretensioned or prestressed which means that tensile
stresses are to be built up in the surface to the extent, that even after
superimposing the outer loads (dead load, wind, snow, etc.) the structure
remains stable.
Types of tensile membranes
 cable nets with quadrangular
(<<square») meshes
 cable nets with triangular meshes
 textile (foldable) membranes
 metal (non-foldable) membranes.
Advantages
Flexible Design 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
Aesthetics unique structure or feature for any building owner, city or even region.
Outstanding ●
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
Translucency
●
luminescence.
Good With several different membranes in the market place such as PTFE
●
fiber glass, ETFE film, PVC, and ePTFE, the durability and longevity of
tensile membrane structures have been proven and built in climates
Durability ranging from the frigid arctic to the scorching desert heat.
Lightweight 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-
Nature free space.
Maintenanc ●
Tensile membrane systems are somewhat unique in
that they require minimal maintenance when
e compared to an equivalent-sized conventional building.
Cost 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
Benefits costs.
Code ●
Depending on the type of membrane and overall project
design, tensile membrane systems appropriately meet the
Compliance various associated building code requirements.
Variety of Whether it’s a permanent durable structure that needs to last longer than 30
●
years, an insulated membrane system for thermal performance, or a

deployable flexible application, there are a variety of tensile membranes to
Membranes choose from to meet specific performances for your next building project.
ustrating a conic and its anticlastic shape
nother anticlastic shape is the hypar
clastic structure with arch supports

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SUSPENDED ROOF

• Flexible membrane is generally used for

• Cable network is more popularly used in

Suspended Roof Suspended Roof Grid work

• Nylon and plastics are suitable only for

• Other structural members like masts,

• Suspension Cables, because of their being

Millau Viaduct, France

 Either a cable frame or a skeleton frame can form the

 A membrane material has a natural tendency to curve, and

 Synthetic fibres and glass fibres are now utilized and

 If tensile and compressive membrane forces are permitted, we speak of

 If the compressive forces are eliminated, we speak of tensile membrane

 In order to eliminate the compressive forces in the membrane structure,

Flexible Design Tensile membrane structures provide virtually unlimited designs of

distinctive elegant forms that can be realized because of the

Lightweight The lightweight nature of membrane is a cost effective solution

that requires less structural steel to support the roof compared to

Cost Most tensile membrane structures have high sun reflectivity

and low absorption of sunlight, thus resulting in less energy

years, an insulated membrane system for thermal performance, or a

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