TENSILE STRUCTURES

INTRODUCTION:-

• A TENSILE STRUCTURE IS A CONSTRUCTION

OF ELEMENTS CARRYING ONLY TENSION AND
NO COMPRESSION OR BENDING.

• TENSION ROOFS OR CANOPIES ARE THOSE IN

WHICH EVERY PART OF STRUCTURE IS
LOADED ONLY IN TENSION, WITH NO
REQUIRMENT TO RESIST COMPRESSION OR
BENDING FORCES.
 CLASSESS OF TENSILE STRUCTURE
CABLE STRUCTURE:
• A SEPRATE GRID OF STRUCTURAL CABLES
SUPPORT NON-STRUCTURAL WEATHER
SHIELD.
SURFACE ACTIVE STRUCTURE:-
• THIS IS BASICALLY KNOWN AS FABRIC ARCHITECTURE ,
THE STUCTURAL MAMBRANE ACTS ALSO AS THE
WEATHER SHIELD.
PNEUMATICS:
• THE TENSION FORCE IS CREATED BY AN INTERIOR
POSITIVE PRESSURE AND THE MEMBERANE ACTS AS THE
WEATHR SHIELD .
 CABLES STRUCTURES
INTRODUCTION:-
• A CABLE IS A FLEXIBLE STRUCTURAL COMPONENT THAT OFFERS NO
RESISTANCE WHEN COMPRESSED OR BENT IN A CURVED SHAPE.
• TECHNICALLY WE CAN SAY CABLE HAS ZERO BENDING REGIDITY.
• IT CAN ONLY SUPPORT TENSILE LOADING.

TYPES OF CABLES:-
• THERE ARE GENERALLY TWO TYPES OF CABLES STRUCTURES.
• SUSPENSION TYPE CABLES.
• STAYED TYPE CABLES.
 SUSPENSION BRIDGE:
• A SUSPENSION BRIDGE IS A TYPE OF BRIDGE IN WHICH THE DECK

(THE LOAD BEARING PORTION) IS HUNG BELOW SUSPENSION

CABLES ON VERTICAL SUSPENDERS.

• THIS TYPE OF BRIDGE HAS CABLES SUSPENDED BETWEEN

TOWERS, PLUS VERTICAL SUSPENDER CABLES THAT CARRY THE

WEIGHT OF THE DECK BELOW, UPON WHICH TRAFFIC CROSSES.

• THE MAIN TYPE OF FORCE IS SUSPENSION BRIDGE ARE TENSION

IN CABLES AND COMPRESSION IN THE PILLARS.

• THE ROADWAY IS SUPPORTED BY VERTICAL SUSPENDER CABLES

OR RODS, CALLED HUNGERS.

• THE BRIDGE WILL USUALLY HAVE TWO SMALLER SPANS,

RUNNING EITHER PAIR OF PILLARS AND THE HIGHWAY.

One of the fine example of suspension bridge:
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
 ADVANTAGES OF SUSPENSION BRIDGES

• Suspension bridges have a high strength to weight ratio

• They can very thin and therefore less visible.
• They havebe an elegant look
• The area spanned by asuspension bridge isvery long in proportion to the amount
of materials required to construct bridges

DISADVANTAGES OF SUSPENSION BRIDGES

Flexibility disadvantages
• suspension bridges are flexible which is an an advantage until condition become
severe
foundation disadvantages
• When built in soft ground ,suspension bridges require extensive and expensive
foundation work to combat the effect of the heavy load on foundation towers
heavy loads
• Flexibility also become a disadvantage when heavy , concentrated loads are
involved
 CABLES(MATERIAL)

• MILD STEEL
• HIGH STRENGTH STEEL
• STAINLESS STEEL
• POLISTER
• BAMBO
• STRUCTURAL CABLES ARE MADE OF A
SERIES OF SMALL STRANDS TWISTED
OR BOUND TOGETHER TO FORM A
MUCH LARGE CABLE.
 CABLE STAYED BRIDGE

• CABLE STAYED BRIDGES IS A SUB

CATEGORY OF SUSPE N SION BRIDGES.
• A BRIDGE IN WHICH THE WEIGHT OF THE
DECK IS SUPPORTED BY A NO. CABLES
RUNNING DIRECTLY TO ONE OR MORE
TOWERS.
• THERE ARE TWO MAJOR CLASES OF CABLE
STAYED BRIDGES:
HARP
FAN
 LOAD TRANSMITION

SLAB

CABLES

PYLONS

PILE CAP

PILES

EARTH
 ADVANTAGES OF CABLE STAYED BRIDGES

• THE CABLE-STAYED DECK IS AN COMPRESSION, PULLED TOWARDS THE TOWERS, AND HAS TO BE
STIFF AT ALL STAGES OF CONST. AND USE.
• IT IS ESSENTIALLY MADE OF CANTILEVERS, AND CAN BE CONSTRUCTED BY BUILDING OUT FROM
THE TOWER.
• CONSTRUCTION TIME IS LESS FOR CABLE STAYED BRIDGES.
• CABLE STAYED BRIDGES REQUIRE LESS CABLES.
 TENSION FABRIC STRUCTURES
INTRODUCTION
• FABRIC STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR THOUSAND
OF YEARS, HOWEVER ONLY IN LAST FIFTY YEARS HAVE THERE
“TENTS” EVOLVED.
• THESE ARE FORM OF CONSTRUCTED FIBERS THAT PROVIDE
END USERS A VARIETY OF AESTHETIC FREE-FORM BUILDING
DESIGN.
.
 CONCEPT AND FORM
CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT
• THE INTERIOR FIBERS NEVER REACH AT THEIR MAXIMUM STRESS LEVEL, WHILE
ALWAYS MAINTAINING WEIGHT.
 SURFACE TYPES

NEGATIVE
GAUSSIAN
CURVATURE

ANTICLASTICS

SUCH AS- TWO

CONE, DIRECTIONAL
SADDLE OR FORCES ARE
HYPERBOLIC IN OPPOSITE
PARABOLOID. DIRECTION
 SYNCLASIC
• POSITIVE GAUSSIAN CURVATURE
• CURVATURE IN THE SAME DIRECTION
• SINCE THE FORCES ARE IN SAME DIRECTION ,THESE FORCES
MUST BE BALANCED BY AIR PRESSURE
 MEMBERANE TYPES
ARCH SUPPORTED STRUCTURES
• THE ARCH-SUPPORTED MEMBRANE SHAPE IS COMPRISED OF A SADDLE WITH ONE CURVING
BOUNDARY AND THREE CURVING BOUNDARIES .
• THESE SYSTEMS CAN BE DESIGNED QUITE EFFICIENTLY FOR SPANS OF ABOUT 25FEET .
 STRUCTURE WITH PRIMARY SUPPORT

• SADDLE SURFACES CAN ALSO BE CREATED IN THE MEMBRANE BY PRIMARY POINT

SUPPORTS THAT , UNLIKE THE ARCH SUPPORTED SYSTEM , DO NOT LIE ON THE
SAME PLANE .
• EXAMPLES OF THESE SHAPES ARE FUNNEL AND CONE .
 RIDGE AND VALLEY STRUCTURE
• THE CONCEPT OF RIDGE AND VALLEY STRUCTURES ARE BASED ON THE
CREATING OF SLIGHT SADDLE BY LAYING CABLES IN AN ADJACENT
PATTERN WITH OPPOSING CURVATURE .
 MAST STRUCTURES
• IN TENSIONED FABRIC STRUCTURES WHERE THE SUPPORTING
STRUCTURE CONSIST OF MASTS ,FABRIC IS SUSPENDED FROM CABLES
HUNG OFF MAST OR OTHER COMPRESSION ELEMENTS.
THE MATERIAL PROPERTIES IN DESIGN OF FABRIC
STRUCTURES
• ARCHITECTURAL FABRICS ARE LIGHT
WEIGHT (.7-1.3kg/m2,) ,WATERPROOF
AND NEGLIGIBLE BENDING AND
COMPRESSION STIFFNESS.
• ALL STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN
ANALYSED FOR UNIFORM WIND
UPLIFT (1.0KN/M2) AND UNIFORM
SNOW LOAD(0.6KN/M20).
 EXAMPLES
THE MILLENNIUM DOME IN
LONDON
• SYNCLASTIC SURFACE IS USED
• DURTION OF USE-PERMANENT ,
CONVERTIBLE ,
• LIFE SPAN -06-10
• COVERED SURFACE -10000
• FORM OF SINGLE ELEMENT-
FLAT APPEARANCE
 ADVANTAGES
• UNIQUE DESIGN
• LIGHT WEIGHT AND FLEXIBLE
• ENVIRONMENTLY SENSITIVE
• HIGH STRENGTH WEIGHT RATIO

DISADVANTAGES
• LITTLE TO NO RIGIDITY
• LOSS OF TENSION IS DANGEROUS FOR
STABILITY
• THERMAL VALUE LIMIT USE
 Pneumatic Structures
• Round in shape because it creates greatest volume for least amount of material.

• The whole envelope has to be evenly pressurized for best stability.

• Pre stressing of membrane can be done either by applying external force or by

internal pressurizing.

• Membrane Structures that are stabilized by pressure of compressed air.

• Pressure difference between the enclosed space and the exterior are
responsible for giving the building its shape and its stability.

• The pressure should be uniformly distributed for structural integrity.

 Principle
• Use of relatively thin membrane supported by pressure difference.

• Dead weight increases by increasing the internal pressure and the

membrane is stressed so that no asymmetrical loading occurs.

• Membrane can support both tension and compression and thus

withstand bending moment.
 Characteristics
Light Weight
• Weight compared to area is less.
• Low air pressure is required to balance it.
Span
• There is no theoretical maximum span.
• To span a distance of 36 km for a normal building is hard while such spans are quite possible
for pneumatics.
Economy
• Not expensive in case of temporary structures.
Safety
• More safer but proper care should be taken.
• They are fire resistance structures.
Theft
• They are very safe structures.
• If the air bag is cut with a knife or a pin a big bang is produced.
 Quick erection and dismantling
• Suitable for temporary constructions.

• 1 km² area can be brought down in 6 hours and can be establish in less than 10 hours.
Good Natural Light
• If envelope is made up of transparent material good natural light entre into the structure.

• Around 50% – 80% of sunlight can be obtained.

AIR SUPPORTED
SYSTEM
 MATERIAL
• Envelope Materials
• Anchor Materials

Envelope Materials
• They should be light weight.
• Should have high tensile strength, tear resistance etc.

Fiberglas
• They high tensile strength, elastic behavior and durability.
• Coated with Teflon or silicone to increase resistance to
extreme temperatures and UV radiation.
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.
ETFE
• 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.

Nylon
• Vinyl-coated nylon has more strength, durability and stretch than
polyester.

• They have a higher cost.

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.
 Types
• Air Supported Structures
• Air Inflated Structures

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.
 • 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.

Air Inflated Structures

• Supporting frames consist of air under high pressure.

• Internal pressure of building remains at atmospheric pressure.

• There is no restrictions
in no. and size of
openings.

• They have potential

to support an attached structure.
 System Components

• Envelope
• Cable System
• Pumping Equipment
• Entrance Doors
• Foundation
 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 structures.
THANK YOU