Membrane structures are one sort of spatial structures made of tensioned membranes.

The
common membranes include fabrics such asPVC coated polyester fabric,
translucent Polyethylene Fabrics, PVC coated glass fiber fabric and PTFE coated glass
fiber fabric; foils likeETFE foil and PVC foil. According to different form-finding methods they
can be divide into pneumatic structure, tensile membrane structure, cable dome.In these
three kinds of membrane structures membranes work together with cables, columns and
other construction members to find a form. There are also some constructions built with
membrane, but it doesn't contribute to supporting the framework, such as the Beijing National
Stadium. In this building the PTFE coated glass fiber fabric and ETFE foil are only filled into
the space between large steel structures to build the large roof and facade. Membrane
Structures are also referred to as tension fabric building. Another building beside it--Beijing
National Aquatics Center--"Water cube" can be seen as one pneumatic membrane structure
made of ETFE foil.

Water Cube in Beijing- Membrane structures with 100 tons ETFE-Foil

Membrane
structures:
construction
involving
textile
architecture

Construction involving textiles is a complex and creative matter

requiring a great deal of expertise. Our knowledge in the area of wire
ropes will take the burden off you and allow you more capacity for
your construction tasks. We offer the highest possible quality and
professional service at a fair price. In combination with your product,
we create added value that pays off.

Example of reference:

Object
"Oval" at Baseler Platz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Architect
Albert Speer & Partner GmbH, Germany

Project
The “Oval” in Frankfurt is an impressive building with an urban mix of
various usages. Its special shape catches the eye just on driving past
 – a circular structure serving not only as the original Baseler Platz
area boundaries but also as an extension beyond this and
enlargement of the area to the east. The atrium is roofed with a foil
system fixed directly to a steel primary structure with stainless steel
wire under-spanning and stainless steel compression struts. Opacity
and solar energy input can be regulated by means of the
superimposed printing of the foils in different levels.

Membrane structures, tensile membrane

Breaking snow load

Snow load calculations Wind suck calculations
analysis

Mast calculations Wind analysis Pattern generation

Types of fabric structures

• tension membrane;
• conical;
• beam;
• combined.

Supporting frame

Frames and poles of textile architecture can be made of steel, concrete, wood, or combined
solutions, depending on the chosen design variations in the design process. Structures can be
calculated with or without snow loads, depending on the purpose of the structure as well as
customer’s request.

Cover

PVC acrylic or PVDF covered material, PTFE Teflon covered materials can be used for textile
architecture structures, improving the aesthetic image of the structure as well as prolonging the
life of a structure. Material elasticity and weight are directly dependent on construction and shall
be selected after analysis of the structure.

Cables and connections

Cables and fittings are made from steel or stainless steel, connections and other parts of the
structure can be produced from galvanized steel. Endings of the cables are factory-waged.

Design and realization steps

I. Design conception – Design conception can be offered by an architect or architectural

company. Designs can be created either on plain paper or by using special software. From your
design, the model and/or computer visualization of the project can be completed. Without
sufficient previous experience in designing textile structures, it is important to contact
specialists to check the form, otherwise a customer may produce an architectural design that is
nearly impossible to implement.

II. Load analysis – This step is directly connected to the design conception. The architect-
designed form must be checked, materials selected, estimate of the project given, and
documentation of the technical project prepared. This analysis must be done by an engineer
with practical experience in the design and calculation of textile structures as well.

III. Preparation of the working project – In this step, detailed working drawings for the
production are prepared. These preparations are carried out be either the producer of the
structure by evaluating available production equipment and production technologies used, or an
engineer who completes the technical aspects in cooperation with the producer.

IV. Production – The actual production is completed by companies that meet our high quality
and technology requirements, which are defined in the preceding steps.

V. Installation – Installation has to be done by certified construction companies that have

experience in installation of textile structures as well as theoretical knowledge.

What is fabric architecture?

Fabric architecture is a relatively new architectural form that has been gaining in
popularity over the last 30 - 40 years. Also called tensile membrane architecture, tension
membrane architecture or fabric membrane structure architecture, it refers to structures
that are composed mainly of steel frames with fabric tent-like roofs made of material (such
as the polyethylene shadecloth netting used by TricoShade) that is held under tension.

Steady technological progress has increased the popularity of fabric roofed structures in
recent years. The low weight of the materials makes fabric architectural construction
easier and cheaper than standard building designs, especially when vast open spaces have
to be covered.

What are some of the famous examples of fabric architecture?

Some recent large scale, high profile public tensile structures are the Millennium Dome
in London and the Denver Airport, shown above.

Others include the Pontiac Silverdome and the Mecca airport.

Who are some of the famous architects and engineers that
design fabric architecture?

Frei Otto, the duo of Nicholas Goldsmith & Todd Dalland at FTL Design & Engineering
Studio, Horst Berger, and David Geiger.

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Where is fabric architecture used?

This form of architecture is well suited for sheltering large public areas, such as stadiums,
arenas, outdoor shelters, and airport terminals. In the US, California and Florida have led
the way in the use of fabric architecture and it continues to gain popularity through out
other states. TricoShade, based in Texas, offers a wide range of commercial, recreational,
and residential uses of fabric architecture. For example, TricoShade designs and
manufactures fabric architecture carports to cover large areas as required by auto
manufacturers to protect hundreds of vehicles from hail and sun damage while the cars
are waiting to be transported to distributors.TricoShade also provides architectural fabric
carport structures for auto dealers, airport parking, apartment and commercial complexes,
car rental companies, etc.

Other markets served by TricoShade and other fabric structure manufacturers can also
include: playgrounds, child care centers, schools, sports facilities, public bus stops,
restaurants, hotels, office buildings, boat docks, etc, etc.

Products manufactured by TricoShade also include: free-standing awnings, canopies,

shade structures, shade gazebos, residential carports, sunbrellas, boat covers, RV covers,
walkway covers, animal shade covers, etc.

We also provide smaller architectural fabric structures in the form of shade sail structures,
canopy awnings, sunbrellas, etc. for anything under the sun.

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What are some of the advantages of fabric architecture?

• Fabric architectural structures are more economical to design and manufacture

than normal buildings.
• The low weight of the materials makes fabric architectural construction easier and
cheaper than standard building designs, especially when vast open spaces have to
be covered.
• Fabric roofs or sidings give you the possibility of adding attractive signage and
logos to help advertise businesses.
• Many fabric architectural structures are designed so that the fabric can be removed
if there is danger of a hurricane. This helps prevent damage to a structure in a way
that is not possible with roofed building structures. It also helps prevent damage to
surrounding property from flying shingles or metal roofs.
• Because of their uniqueness and originality, fabric structures can attract extra
attention to a business.

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What kind of fabric architecture designs does TricoShade offer?

TricoShade's standards models of tensile membrane structures have hip roofs, pyramid
roofs or dome roofs. But we have specialized engineers who frequently create custom
designs for our clients. Please see our photo gallery to see examples of projects we have
created.

What are some of the things one should be aware of when

considering fabric architecture as an option?

According to the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), the industry authority,
one needs to be selective when looking for fabric structures. They need to comply with
engineering standards. Questions to ask are:

• How long has the company been in business?

• Are all the designs approved by a qualified fabric-knowledgeable engineer?
• What kind of warranty does the company provide?
• What kind of fabric is used? Is it weather resistant? Is it guaranteed not to fade in
the sun? Is it mold-proof? How tear-resistant is it?
• What does the company specialize in? Small awnings and canopies, or large stand-
alone structures? There is a significant difference because of the engineering
required in large stand structures. The American Society of Civil Engineers
publishes a range of minimum wind load standards for different types of fabric
architecture structures. Reputable manufacturers, such as TricoShade Inc, abide
by these standards and their structures can withstand winds of up to 140 miles per
hour if needed.

The Millennium Dome is a huge metal tent lying on a bend of the Thames
near Greenwich. It was opened to the public on 1st January 2000, amidst much
media grumbling.
It was commissioned by the Government as one of London’s millennium projects –
along with the London Eye and Jubilee Line extension.
It is the largest single-roofed building in the world, measuring 3,280 feet in
circumference – tall enough to accommodate Nelson’s Column standing upright,
or the Eiffel Tower on its side.
The O2 Millennium Dome

The original plan was to turn the Dome into a glorious Great Exhibition, but that
bit the dust within a year. The plans were ill-conceived and poorly thought out,
and suffered from massive public apathy. It didn’t help that the exhibits were
rather less than enthralling…

The venue was split into fourteen zones – Body, Work, Learning, Money, Play,
Journey, Self Portrait, Living Island, Talk, Faith, Home Planet, Rest, Mind, and
Shared Ground – containing educational exhibits and information displays. But
over-optimistic visitor numbers (12 million) meant that it fell woefully short of
cash, and the Government was frequently asked to bail it out.

Despite its lousy reputation, the Dome still managed to attract 6.5 million people
in its first 12 months of operation – hardly a disaster. Indeed, this number was
slightly higher than the Festival of Britain managed in 1951.
Many new plans were proposed for the Dome since its closure, and there was talk
of turning it into a casino, a sports venue, or a music arena with shops and offices.
The mobile communication company O2 eventually won out, and turned it into an
entertainment complex called the O2 Arena.
Read more about Millennium Dome (O2 Arena), London -- history and
information at www.londondrum.com