BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 5

Alterative Building Construction System

TENSILE STRUCTURES
TENSILE
STRUCTURES
• Category of buildings in which
the load bearing capacity is
achieved through tension
stress in most of the
components, such as cables,
technical fabrics or foils.
• 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.
TENSILE STRUCTURES
• The only exception is
represented by rigid
boundaries and structural
members which are generally
subjected to compression and
bending.
• Tension structures are
commonly subdivided in
boundary tensioned
membranes, pneumatic
structures and pre-stressed
cable nets and beams
 TENSILE STRUCTURES
• Tensile structure is the term
usually used to refer to the
construction of roofs using a
membrane held in place on steel
cables.

• Their main characteristics are the

way in which they work under
stress tensile, their ease of pre-
fabrication, their ability to cover
large spans, and their malleability.
TENSILE
STRUCTURES

• This structural system

calls for a small
amount of material
thanks to the use of
thin canvases, which
when stretched using
steel cables, create
surfaces capable of
overcoming the forces
imposed upon them
TENSILE STRUCTURES:
HISTORY

• Historically inspired - black tents using

camel leather by the nomads of the
Sahara Desert, Saudi Arabia, and Iran,
structures used by Native American
tribes
• Romans even covered the Colosseum
with massive canopies, hoisted by an
intricate system of pulleys, to protect
the audience from the elements
TENSILE STRUCTURES: HISTORY
• Coverings of sports centers, of
arenas, and industrial and agro-
industrial constructions, tensile
structures are based on the old
systems used during the Roman
Empire.
• However, from the Roman period
until the mid-20th century-there
were few technological advances.
• Industrial Revolution and the
triggering of the era of Fordism -
new developments were able to
meet the intrinsic needs of this
construction system.
TENSILE STRUCTURES: TYPES
TENSILE
STRUCTURES: TYPES
• MESH TENSIONED
STRUCTURES: A mesh of
cables carries the intrinsic
forces, transmitting them
to separate elements, for
example, sheets of glass or
wood.
TENSILE STRUCTURES: TYPES
• PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: A protective membrane is supported by
means of air pressure.
TENSILE STRUCTURES: TYPES
 TENSILE
STRUCTURES
TENSILE STRUCTURES
TENSILE STRUCTURES
TENSILE STRUCTURES
TENSILE STRUCTURES
TENSILE STRUCTURES
TENSILE STRUCTURES
TENSILE STRUCTURES
TENSILE STRUCTURES
TENSILE STRUCTURES
TENSILE STRUCTURES: CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
• Combining three elements:
membranes, rigid structures such as
pole and masts, and cables.
PVC-coated polyester fibers
PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)-
coated glass fiber membranes
• There are two types of support: direct
and indirect.
Direct - construction is arranged
directly on the rest of the building
structure
Indirect- construction is arranged
from a raised point such as a mast.
TENSILE STRUCTURES: CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
• Cables - responsible for the distribution of the
tensile stresses and the hardening of the
canvasses - classified in one of two ways
according to the action which they perform:
load-bearing and stabilizing.

• Both types of cable cross orthogonally, ensuring

strength in two directions and avoiding
deformations.
load-bearing cables - directly receive the external
loads, fixed at the highest points.
stabilizing cables - responsible for strengthening
the load bearing cables and cross the load-
bearing cables orthogonally.
TENSILE STRUCTURES: CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
• It is possible to avoid attaching the stabilizing cables to the ground by
using a peripheral fixation cable.
• The nomenclatures for different cables are generated according to their
position:
ridge-line cable refers to the uppermost cable;
valley cables are fixed below all other cables;
radial cables are stabilizer cables in the form of a ring.

• Ridge-line cables support gravitational loads while valley cables support

wind loads
FABRIC STRUCTURES: TYPES OF ROOF
FABRIC STRUCTURES: SADDLE ROOF
FABRIC
STRUCTURES:
MAST SUPPORT
• Tent-like in appearance
• Mast supported structures
typically - one or sometimes
several peaks that are
supported by either interior or
perimeter masts.
• Fabric is attached to the
interior mast by special
connections, usually a bale
ring or cable loop.
FABRIC
STRUCTURES:
MAST SUPPORT
• Openings - typically
ovoid or elliptical.
• The fabric that extends
from the top of the
opening is seamed and
can necessitate
patterning.
• Suitable for long span
roofs
FABRIC STRUCTURES:
ARCH SUPPORTED ROOF
• Curved compression
members are used as the
main supporting elements
and cross arches are used
for lateral stability.
• Plane arch, large
differences between the
thrust lines and the main
geometry - produce large
bending moments
FABRIC STRUCTURES: ARCH SUPPORTED ROOF
• One method to significantly reduce these effects is to tie or restrain
points along the arch chord to reduce the initial large deformations of
the chord.
• The buckling length of the arch chord can also be reduced by discretely
or continuously supporting the chord with tension elements or systems
comprised of cables or membranes.
FABRIC STRUCTURES: COMPONENTS
FABRIC STRUCTURES: COMBINATIONS
Combination of several support types
FABRIC STRUCTURES: COMPONENTS
BASE PLATE
• Connection to concrete foundation pillar
MEMBRANES
• Forms the enclosure of the structure.
Connections can be glued or
• heat welded :
• PVC coated polyester (polyvinylchloride)
• Silicon coated glass
• Teflon coated glass P.T.F.E
(polytetrafluroethylene)
FABRIC STRUCTURES: COMPONENTS
BALE RING/ MEMBRANE PLATE
• Provide a link between the membrane
and structural elements..
• Bale rings are used at the top of conical
shapes.
• Membrane plates accept centenary
cables and pin connection hardware
FABRIC STRUCTURES:
COMPONENTS
TYPES OF FABRIC MEMBRANE
PVC :
•Less expensive
•15 to 20 year life span
•Easy to erect
TEFLON GLASS:
•Similar to silicon glass, less brittle
SILICON GLASS:
•Higher tensile strength
•Brittle, subject to damage from flexing
30+ year life spa
FABRIC STRUCTURES
FABRIC STRUCTURES
PNEUMATIC
STRUCTURES
PNEUMATIC
STRUCTURES
• Pneumatics are tensile
structures par excellence-
possible to have all elements
working exclusively in tension.
• pneumatic structure- shape
cannot be imposed, since
membranes do not withstand
bending, and thus geometry
and loads have to interact
until a equilibrium
configuration is reached.
PNEUMATIC
STRUCTURES
• Besides, the viable shape has to
accommodate both
architectonic requirements
(form and function) and –
minding materials structural
requirements (resistance and
stability).
• The design of the structure is
necessarily integrated to
analysis, in a process that
encompasses procedures for
shape finding, patterning and
load analysis
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES
• Pneumatic structure is a membrane which carries load developed
from the tensile stresses.
• Its stabilization is done by pre-stressing the membrane either by
a) Applying an external force which pulls the membrane taut
b) Internal pressurizing if the membrane is volume enclosing.
PNEUMATIC
STRUCTURES
Such structures are called
“pneumatic structures”.
Create artificial environments
adaptable to human use .
Bound to increase in popularity,
owing to the tremendous
freedom they provide to the
architects in designing large free
spaces within them
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES
• Pneumatic is derived
from the greek word
“pneuma” (meaning
breath of air), thus these
are the structure which
are supported by air.
• It was only introduced in
the building technology
about 40 years ago.
 1. Its principle is the use of relatively thin membrane
PNEUMATIC supported by a pressure difference.
2. Through increasing the inside air pressure not only the
STRUCTURES: dead weight of the space envelope is balanced, but
PRINCIPLES the membrane is stressed to a point where it cannot
be indented by asymmetrical loading
 AIR SUPPORTED STRUCTURES
PNEUMATIC ❑ It consist of a single membrane (enclosing a functionally
STRUCTURES: useful space) which is supported by a small internal pressure
difference.
TYPES ❑The internal volume of a building air is consequently at a
pressure higher than atmospheric.
PNEUMATIC
STRUCTURES: TYPES
AIR SUPPORTED STRUCTURES

✓ They have air higher than the

atmospheric pressure supporting the
envelope.
✓ Air locks or revolving doors help to
maintain the internal pressure.
✓ Air must be constantly provided.
✓ Life span of 20 – 25 years.
✓ Relatively low cost.
✓ They are either anchored to the
ground or to a wall so that leakage is
prevented
✓ They have relative low cost and they
can be installed easily
PNEUMATIC
STRUCTURES: TYPES
AIR INFLATED STRUCTURES
It is supported by pressurized air contained within
inflated building element. The pressurized air in the
pillow serves only to stabilizing the load carrying
membrane. The covered space is not pressurized.
Supporting frames consist of air under high
pressure.
Internal pressure of building remains at atmospheric
pressure.
There is no restrictions in number and size of
openings.
It has the ability to support itself.
They have potential to support an attached
structure
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
LIGHT-WEIGHT
✓The weight of the structure as compared to the area it covers is very
less.
✓The weight of the membrane roof, even when it is stiffened by cables,
is very small.
✓Low air pressure is sufficient to balance it
PNEUMATIC
STRUCTURES: GENERAL
CHARACTERISTICS
SAFETY
✓Pneumatic structures are
safer than any other
structure. Otherwise, a
proper care should be taken
while establishing.
✓ They are fire resistance
structures.
PNEUMATIC
STRUCTURES: GENERAL
CHARACTERISTICS
ECONOMY
✓ It is not expensive when it is
used as temporary structures

GOOD NATURAL LIGHTING

✓ If envelope is made up of
transparent material, good
natural light enter into the
structure.
✓Around 50% –80% of sunlight
can be obtained
PNEUMATIC
STRUCTURES: GENERAL
CHARACTERISTICS
HUMAN HEALTH
✓ In most cases, pressure of not
more than 80-100mm and not
less than 60mm.
✓Man can withstand pressures
between 0.20 atm to 3 atm.
Therefore, no health hazard is
presented by continuous stay
in a pneumatic structure
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES:
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
ENVELOPE
✓They can be made up of different
materials.
✓Cannot be used as one continuous
material.
✓Material are seamed together by
sealing, heat bonding or mechanical
jointing.
✓The design of the envelope depends on
an evenly pressurized environment.
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: SYSTEM COMPONENTS
CABLE SYSTEM
✓They act as the supporting system.
✓ They experience tension force due to the
upward force of the air.
✓ Can be placed in one or two directions to create a network and for
better stability.
✓ They do not fail since they are pulled tight enough to absorb the
external loads.
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: SYSTEM COMPONENTS
PUMPING EQUIPMENT
✓It is used to supply and maintain
internal pressure inside the structure.
✓ Fans, blowers or compressors are used
for constant supply of air.
✓ The amount of air required depends
on the weight of the material and the
wind pressure.
PNEUMATIC
STRUCTURES: SYSTEM
COMPONENTS
ENTRANCE
✓Doors can be
ordinary doors or
airlocks.
✓Airlock minimize the
chances of having an
unevenly pressurized
environment.
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES:
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
FOUNDATION
✓Pneumatic structures are secured
to ground using heavy weights,
ground anchors or attached to a
foundation.
✓Weight of the material and the
wind loads are used to determine
the most appropriate anchoring
system.
✓For bigger structures, reinforcing
cables or nets are used.
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: SYSTEM COMPONENTS
FOUNDATION
✓For a dependent pneumatic
structure (roof only air supported
structure) the envelope is anchored
to the main structure.
✓When anchoring is done to soil, the
cable is attached to the anchor
directly inserted and frictional
forces of the soil to hold it down.
✓Soil anchoring systems include
screw, disk, expanding duckbill and
arrowhead anchors
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES:
LOADING
AIR SUPPORTED STRUCTURES
✓Wind and Snow loads are the primary loads
that are acting on pneumatic structures.
✓ They are anchored very tight to the ground,
so no horizontal forces are exerted to the
envelope.
✓ As pneumatic structures are tensile, the
envelope has the ability to gain stiffness in
order to withstand the loads acting on them.
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: LOADING
AIR INFLATED STRUCTURES
✓Wind loads produce a lateral force on the
structures and snow load causes
downward forces on envelope.
✓ Pneumatic structures are designed to
withstand wind load of 120 mph and a
snow load of 40 pounds/yard.
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: CLASSIFICATION
Pneumatic Structures can be further subdivided as:
A. Type of Differential Pressure
B. Degree of Differential Pressure
C. Type of Surface Curvature
D. Proportions
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: CLASSIFICATION
TYPE OF DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE
✓Pneumatic Structures use either positive pressure or negative pressure.
✓In Positive Pressure System, the membrane is always curved outwards,
whereas in Negative Pressure Systems the membrane is curved inwards.
✓ Being curved inwards there is a
tendency of water logging & snow
accumulation.
✓ Moreover, negative pressure systems
require high supports at the edge or
in the center which makes it more
expensive.
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: CLASSIFICATION
DEGREE OF DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS
✓ These systems are provided with low
pressure air; hence have to be provided
with continuous supply of air.
Example: Air Supported Structures.
HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEMS
✓ Used for easy erection & dismantling; the pressure difference is b/w 2000-
7000mm of water pressure (100 to 1000 times) low pressure systems.
✓ These high-pressure air inflated systems are either having a single valve system
or a double valve systems which avoids its collapse
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: CLASSIFICATION
TYPE OF SURFACE CURVATURE
These structures can also be classified according to the types of
curvature on the outer surface,
a. Single curved
b. Doubly curved in the same direction or synclastics
c. Doubly curved in opposite direction or anticlastic
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: CLASSIFICATION
PROPORTIONS
On the basis of different proportions, pneumatic structures can be:
a. Two dimension of similar size and one larger dimension
Example: Tubes, Masts, Columns, Towers
b. Two dimensions of similar size and one smaller dimension
Example: Cushions , Lenses,
Mattresses
c. Three dimensions of similar size
Example: Balloons, Balls,
Spheres, Bubbles
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES:
MATERIALS
ENVELOPE MATERIALS
FIBERGLASS
• They high tensile strength,
elastic behavior and durability.
• Coated with Teflon or silicone to
increase resistance to extreme
temperatures and UV radiation.
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: MATERIALS
ENVELOPE MATERIALS
POLYESTER
• Most common envelope material
for smaller structures.
• PVC-coated polyester is common
for flexible, smaller air-supported
structures.
• The PVC is applied to the
polyester using a bonding or
adhesive agent
PNEUMATIC
STRUCTURES:
MATERIALS
ENVELOPE MATERIALS
ETFE (ETHYLENE
TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE)
• It is very energy efficient because
of transparency, insulation and
UV resistance.
• It is also light weight has an
lifespan on 20 years and is
recyclable.
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES:
MATERIALS

ENVELOPE MATERIALS
NYLON
• Vinyl-coated nylon has
more strength, durability and
stretch than polyester.
• They have a higher cost
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: MATERIALS
ANCHOR MATERIALS
The anchor material depends on the application
and size of the pneumatic structure.

STEEL CABLES
• Steel wires are twisted into strands which are
then twisted around a core to form the cable

BALLASTS
• Materials for ballasts of smaller structures include
sand bags, concrete blocks or bricks.
• The ballasts must be placed around the perimeter
of the structure to evenly distribute the load
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: APPLICATIONS
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES: ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES
• Light weight
• Covers large spans without internal supports
• Rapid assembly and have low initial and operating cost
• Portability

DISADVANTAGES
• Need for continuous maintenance of excess pressure in the envelope
• Relatively short service life
• Continuous operation of fans to maintain pressure
• Cannot reach the insulation values of hard-walled structure
PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES
CONCLUSION
a) Pneumatic structures have found wide
range of application.
b) They are best suited for small and
temporary construction.
c) They can be quickly erected and
dismantled.
d) Provoke fascination among observers
and bystanders