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Prof.

G G Schierle, PhD, FAIA

Design of Fabric Structures


Session T33, Thursday, 04/30, 2 3:30 PM

Acknowledgements/Credits
This presentation includes book excerpts of

Structure and Design

http://www.universityreaders.com/titles/schierle/

Design of Fabric Structures

Saddle shape

Wave shape

Arch shape

Pont shape

Anticlastic Stability
Two stressed strings stabilize a point in space

Two sets of strings form a stable surface

Without prestress, convex fiber gets slack, causing instability

Flat fiber deform greatly under load, causing instability Triangular panels are flat & unstable (AVOID)

Prestress
Prestress (PS) effect on a string F = force, P = load, = deflection 1 2 Without prestress top link resists all Assume: =1 With prestress Top link increase: 3 A B C D Lower link decrease: Stress / strain diagram f/ without prestress with prestress Prestress reduced to PS = 0 Prestressed string after PS = 0 = 1/2 F=PS+P/2 F=PSP/2

Cable nets need about 50% prestress Fabric structures need about 30% prestress
http://www-classes.usc.edu/architecture/structures/papers/GGS-Yin.pdf

Minimal Surface
Criteria: Minimum surface area Equal stress throughout Equal +- curvature at any point

Governing Equations (Schierle 1977*) *First published 1977 in Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications F1/F2 = A/B Y = F1(X/S1)K/F1+ X tan Y = F2(Z/S2)K/F2 K= F1+F2

Fiber orientation
Good Flawed
Straight generating line
Common use Tensile strength Fire rating ++ incombustible + low flammability 0 none + ++ ++ ++ UV light resistance ++ very good + good + ++ ++ ++ Translucency

Principal curvature

Fabric Properties
Type Makeup Durability

3: small deflection

Coated fabric* Coated fabric* Coated fabric

Polyester fabric PVC coating Glass fiber fabric PTFE coating Glass fiber fabric Silicone coating Fine mesh fabric Laminated with PTFE film PVC foil Flouro-polymer foil ETFE PTFE fabric (good qualities for sustainability) Flouro-polymer fabric

Permanent + mobile Internal + external Permanent Internal + external Permanent Internal + external Permanent Internal + external

40 to 200 kN/m 228 to 1142 lb/in 20 to 160 kN/m 114 to 914 lb/in 20 to 100 kN/m 114 to 571 lb/in 50 to 100 kN/m 286 to 571 lb/in

0 to 25 % 4 to 22 % 10 to 20 % 35 to 55 %

4: large deflection

15 to 20 years > 25 years > 20 years > 25 years

Laminated fabric*

Foil Foil*

Permanent internal Temporary external Permanent Internal + external

6 to 40 kN/m 34 to 228 lb/in 6 to 12 kN/m 34 to 69 lb/in

0 ++

+ ++

Up to 90 % Up to 96 %

15 to 20 years internally > 25 years

Coated or uncoated fabric* Coated or uncoated fabric*

Permanent + mobile Internal + external Permanent + mobile Internal + external

40 to 100 kN/m 228 to 571 lb/in 8 to 20 kN/m 46 to 114 lb/in

++

++

15 to 40 %

> 25 years

++

++

Up to 90 %

> 25 years

* Self-cleaning

Structure
Design stress (tensile strength / 4) Tensile strength Design stress 400 pli 100 pli 600 pli 150 pli 800 pli 200 pli

Maximum spans
Assuming: Live load Safety factor Span/sag ratio Fabric breaking strength 600 pli (lb/in) 800 pli (lb/in) LL = 20 psf Sf = 4 L/f = 10 Max. span ~ 60 ft ~ 80 ft

Costs
Type Cost / sq. ft Prefab PVC $15 to $20 Custom PVC $30 to $60 PTFE Teflon-coated fiberglass $60 to $180 Note: costs exclude foundations

Design / Analysis
Radial load
Edge cable tension w T=Rp

Symmetric suspension
Horizontal reaction Vertical reaction Max fabric tension H = w L2/(8f) R = w L/2 T = 1.35 w L

w
h H RL L/2 f f L RR

Asymmetric suspension
Vector method Total load Fabric tensions Horizontal reaction Vertical reactions W=wL TR TL H RL RR

H RR TR TL W= w L

RL

Lateral Load
Seismic (not critical)
V = Cs W V = seismic base shear Cs = Seismic coefficient W = mass (dead load) Example (V / ft2, Cs = 0.2, w = 1 psf) V = 0.2 x1

V = 0.2 psf

Wind (critical) Velocity 90 mph (most USA) 150 mph (Golf coast)
Gust factors (G= 0.85 for rigid structures) G ~ 1.5 for fabric structures LDG: Lateral Design Graph Example (V per ft2, p = 20 psf) Sample: 100 x 50 x 20 V = p G = 20 x 1.5 V = 30 psf

Thermal
While fabric has low R-values Thermal reflection is very good

Lighting
Daylight sunny days Daylight overcast 10% translucent fabric Typical office lighting ~75000 lux ~25000 lux ~2500 - 7500 lux ~1000 lux

Acoustics
Thin fabric provides little sound insulation Micro-perforated foils absorb sound (suspended under structural fabric) Form may be used to control acoustics Anticlastic forms disperse sound Synclastic forms focus sound

Edge conditions
Edge beam Edge arch Edge cable

Surface conditions
Point shape Arch shape Wave shape Saddle shape

Edge Cable (tension)

Edge Beam (bending)

Edge Arch (compression)

Edge Conditions

UCB Canopy

Edge Cable tension

Stage canopy

Raleigh Arena North Carolina (1953)

Edge Arch / Ring compression

Architect: Novicki and Deitrick Engineer: Severud Elstad Krueger Edge arch / cable roof

EFL portable classroom (1968)


Architect: G G Schierle Engineer: Nick Forell Edge arch / anticlastic Fabric

Sony Center Berlin


Architect: Helmut Jahn Engineer: Ove Arup Edge ring / radial cables and fabric

Horticultural Center
Gallaway Gardens, Georgia By ODC

Edge Beam bending

Dining Pavilion Saddlebrook Florida By Helios Industries Note: Edge beams facilitate groupings

Saddle shapes

Wave shapes

Surface conditions

Arch shapes

Stayed Masts

Dish

Ring

Puncture

Point shapes

Saddle shapes

Propped Masts

Eye

Loop

Radial

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Expo 64 Lausanne
Architect: Saugey / Schierle Engineer: Froidevaux et Weber 26 restaurant pavilions: Featured Swiss regional cuisines Symbolizing sailing and mountains

Design example
B

Assume: Wind pressure


A A

p = 30 psf Fa= 200 pli Fa= 50 pli

Allowable fabric stress Available canvass stress

Section B-B

B L=120

Wind load (normal to fabric) T = p R = (30)(100) Fabric stress per inch f = 3000/12
f=12

T = 3000 #

f = 250 pli 250 > 200 > 50

Fabric NOT OK Cable net was required

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B L=120

w = 20 psf
H RL f=12 f
h=40

Assume: Same allowable stress Gravity load w = 20 psf Graphic method Total Load W = w L = 20 (120) W = 2400 # Horizontal reaction H = 3000 # Vertical reaction RL= 2400 # Fabric tension T T = 3720 # Fabric stress (#/in) f = 3720#/12 f = 310 pli Gravity load not OK 310>200>50 Cable net was required
H=3000# T=3720# W= 2400# RL=2400#

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Wave shapes

Computer model

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San Diego Convention Center


Architect: Arthur Erickson Engineer: Horst Berger Fabric design: Horst Berger Concrete pylons at 60 support ridge, valley, and guy cables that span 300 between pylons Translucent Teflon coated fiber glass fabric provides daylight Ridge cables support gravity load Valley cables support wind uplift Guy cables support Flying buttresses

Denver Airport Architect: Fentress Photo: David Benbennick

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Denver Airport Photo: David Benbennick

Sony Center Berlin


Architect: Helmut Jahn Engineer: Ove Arup Truss compression ring 335 Flying buttress mast supports top tension ring Radial guy cables support mast Radial roof cables hold fabric Translucent fabric

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Arch shapes

Study model

EFL portable classroom (1968)


Architect: G G Schierle Engineer: Nick Forell Size: 30x40 First twin fabric with thermal insulation

Theater pavilion Armonk (1968)


Architect: G G Schierle Engineer: Nick Forell Size 60x80 - capacity 600 Longest span fabric roof 1968 fabric tensile strength 720 pli

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Skating Rink Munich


Architect: Ackermann Engineer: Schlaich / Bergermann Prismatic arch truss supports translucent PVC fabric on wood slats and cable net Arch truss (L=328) detail

Puncture

Dish

Ring

Stayed

Propped Masts

Masts

Eye

Loop

Radial

Point Shapes

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Sea-World Pavilion Vallejo


Architect: G G Schierle Engineer: ASI, Advanced Structures Inc

Twin fabric @ high stress

Details

Webbing holds fabric

Prestress turnbuckle

Twin fabric @ high stress

Fabric pattern seam

Fabric corner

Ground anchor

Mast top

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Erection

Layout Erection Color lighting

German Pavilion Expo 67 Montreal


Architect: Gutbrod & Otto Engineer: Leonhardt & Andrae Translucent fabric for natural lighting suspended from cable net on 3-D adjustable hangers. Prefab panels assembled on site with lacing.

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Balance Forces
Balanced

Unbalanced

Design Process
Stretch Fabric models

Stretch fabric models for form-finding and testing

Stretch fabric design / testing model

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Design Process
Computer Aided Form-finding Analysis Pattern design
Computer model Computer model CAD patterns by triangulation Load shape dotted lines

Optimization
Edge & surface curvature (Schierle, 1971) Usual optimum L/f = 10 L = span f = sag

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Watts Towers Cultural Center (2002)


Architect: Ado / Schierle Engineer: ASI Removable fabric and cable truss

Stadium Oldenburg Germany


Architect: Kulla, Herr und Partner Engineer: Schlaich Bergermann

Anticlastic fabric panels suspended from cantilever cable trusses

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Form-finding model

Grid Shell Mannheim, 1975


Architect: Mutschler / Otto Engineer: Ove Arup Grid shell of 50 cm square, 50 mm twin slats form rhomboids in space; covered with translucent fabric.

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Millennium Dome London


Architect: Richard Rogers Engineer: Buro Happold

anticlastic fabric

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Speaker

Prof G G Schierle, PhD, FAIA USC - School of Architecture Los Angeles, CA 90089-0291

thank you
T 213-740-4590 F 213-740-8888 schierle@usc.edu http://www.usc.edu/structures

http://www.universityreaders.com/titles/schierle/

Curved wall to resist wind

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