Tensile surface structures a practical guide to cable and membrane construction; materials, design, assembly and erection

Michael Seidel, David Sturge9783433029220, 3433029229

Tensile surface structures are the visual expression of an intensive rethinking of the topic of building envelopes by designers. Advances in design methods, materials, construction elements and assembly and erection planning in the field of lightweight construction are enabling ever more exacting applications of tensile structures with envelope and structural functions, especially in roofing over large clear spans without internal support. However, the particular mechanical characteristics of the materials used in the construction of textile structures demand consideration of the question of “buildability”. This book provides answers by discussing the fundamental influence of material manufacture and assembly in deciding the most suitable type of building or structure and its detailing in the design process. The fundamentals of material composition, manufacturing process, patterning and the behaviour of flexible structural systems are all explained here, as well as their use as structural and connection elements, and special attention is given to the erection of wide-span lightweight structures. The erection equipment is described, as well as the lifting and tensioning process and the construction methods used to erect the characteristic types of tensile structures, illustrated with a selection of example projects.

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Table of contents :
Tensile Surface Structures: A Practical Guide to Cable and Membrane Construction……Page 3
Contents……Page 13
Foreword……Page 7
Preface……Page 10
1.1 The importance of manufacture and erection……Page 15
1.2 Ambition, aim and scheme of the book……Page 16
2.1 Introduction……Page 19
2.2.1 Linear load-bearing elements……Page 20
2.2.2 Surface load-bearing elements……Page 40
2.3.1 Mechanical properties……Page 53
2.4.1 Development……Page 65
2.4.3 Criteria for the patterning……Page 67
2.4.4 Cutting out the pieces……Page 77
2.5.1 Permanent surface joints……Page 79
2.5.2 Reusable surface joints……Page 85
2.6.1 Geometry of the edging and effect on bearing behaviour……Page 87
2.6.2 The detailing of edges and their anchorage at corners……Page 88
2.6.3 Edge details……Page 89
2.7 Corner details……Page 95
3.1 Introduction……Page 99
3.2.1 Aims and tasks of construction management……Page 101
3.2.2 Scheduling……Page 102
3.2.3 Modelling erection procedures……Page 105
3.2.4 Construction engineering……Page 107
3.2.5 Design detailing for erection practicality……Page 109
3.3.1 Cranes and lifting devices……Page 111
3.3.2 Tensioning devices and equipment for ropes……Page 115
3.3.3 Tensioning devices and aids for membrane sheets……Page 122
3.3.4 Scaffolding working platforms and temporary construction……Page 126
3.4.1 Criteria affecting the erection procedure……Page 130
3.4.2 Remarks about the erection of the primary structure……Page 141
3.4.3 Erection procedures for membrane structures……Page 153
3.5 Construction……Page 169
3.5.1 Preparation work and preassembly……Page 170
3.5.2 Lifting and hanging structural elements……Page 175
3.5.3 Introduction of loads – pretensioning……Page 190
3.6.1 Determination of force in ropes……Page 207
3.6.2 Measurement of membrane stresses……Page 209
4 Summary and outlook……Page 211
References……Page 213
Illustration acknowledgements……Page 219
Projects (1989–2007)……Page 223