ARCHITECTS: TECHNICAL

ADVANTAGES OF TENSILE STRUCTURES

Ability to span large areas with a lightweight material

Able to produce dramatic, expressive architectural forms

To produce environments with controllable levels of natural light

Fire Retardant Membranes

CHOICE OF SURFACE FORM

Curvature = efficient load carrying capability

Bi-directional curvature = efficient load carrying capability in two directions

Surface form requires double curvature – Anticlastic surface

HYPAR

Basic four point sail – two high and two low points

More than one sail combined to produce dramatic effect

Not limited to four connection points, five, six or more points

BARREL VAULT

Classic saddle shape

It its basic form, membranes tensioned between saddle shaped supporting steelwork

More common form, membrane tensioned between two arches with scallop edges

CONIC

Membrane tensioned between smaller upper ring and some form of lower boundary

Scallop (catenery) edges along over boundary

Fixed edges along lower boundary

INVERTED CONICAL

Same design principles as normal cone structures

Limited case is often a wind uplift load case

RIDGE VALLEY

Double curvature formed by tensioning membranes between alternating hogging and sagging cable

Cables alternate, above and beneath the fabric

Information supplied by Adam Bown – Ferrari workshop 2007

For more detailed information please contact Marc du Plessis marcdup@capeshade.co.za