1

European Design Guide for Surface Tensile Structures

The European Design Guide for Surface Tensile Structures has been published The European Design Guide for Surface Tensile Structures (2004),
in August 2004. The design guide contains the following chapters: the Proceedings of the TensiNet Symposium (2003) and of
the Design of membrane and lightweight structures Symposium (2000)
Introduction John Chilton, Brian Forster
can be ordered on line http://www.tensinet.com/order_designguide.php :
Engineered fabric architecture Brain Forster, Marijke Mollaert
Form Jürgen Bradatsch, Peter Pätzold, Cristiana Saboia de
Cost
Freitas, Rudi Scheuermann, Juan Monjo,
(Euro)
Marijke Mollaert
European Design Guide for Surface Tensile Structures (2004) 100
Internal Environment John Chilton, Rainer Blum, Thibaut Devulder,
Proceedings of the TensiNet Symposium (2003) 60
Peter Rutherford
Design of membrane and lightweight structures Symposium (2000) 40
Detailing and Connections Rogier Houtmann, Harmen Werkman
Structural design basis and safety criteria Mike Barnes, Brian Forster,
The following packages can be ordered at reduced prices:
Mike Dencher
Design loading conditions Markus Balz, Mike Dencher
European Design Guide + Proceedings of the TensiNet Symposium (2003)
Form-finding, load analysis and patterning Mike Barnes, Lothar Gründig,
+ Design of membrane and lightweight structures Symposium (2000) 150
Erik Moncrieff
European Design Guide + Proceedings of the TensiNet Symposium (2003) 130
Material properties and testing Rainer Blum, Heidrun Bögner, Guy Némoz
Fabrication, installation and maintenance Klaus Gipperich, Roberto If you order any of these publications at the same time as registering as
Canobbio, Stefania Lombardi, Marc Malinowsky a TensiNet member the cost of the older publications is reduced by 50%
and the cost of the Design Guide is reduced by 20%:
The design guide contains the following appendices:

Cp Values for simple tensile structure shapes, Mike Dencher, Markus Balz European Design Guide + Proceedings of the TensiNet Symposium (2003)
Cp values for open roof stadiums, Markus Balz, Mike Barnes + Design of membrane and lightweight structures Symposium (2000) 130
Testing methods and standards, Rainer Blum, Heidrun Bögner, Guy Némoz European Design Guide + Proceedings of the TensiNet Symposium (2003) 110
An Example of the application of the testing procedure described European Design Guide for Surface Tensile Structures (2004) 80
in Appendix A3 on a PTFE coated glass fabric, Rainer Blum,
Heidrun Bögner, Klaus Gipperich, Sean Seery

With its different activities (website, database, Design Guide, annual workshop Textile Roofs and TensiNews) TensiNet has an impact at both
the educational and professional level. Initially, specific information was scattered and retained by experts. However, the networking that has been initiated reaches
beyond the partners and has an impact on knowledge and procedures in institutions as well as professional organisations and businesses.
TensiNet creates a forum, an association and a reference point.
Marijke Mollaert

partners
Buro Happold Engineers
www.burohappold.com
The Arup Group
www.arup.com
Forthcoming Events
Canobbio S.p.A. Universidad Poletécnica de IASS 2004 Conference
www.canobbio.com Madrid www.aq.upm.es
Montpellier (France) 20/09/2004 > 24/09/2004
Ceno Tec SL-Rasch GmbH
www.ceno-tec.de www.sl-rasch.de http://www.iass2004.org/
Club de
la Structure Textile
Taconic International 41st Annual SES Technical Meeting Symposium
www.taconic-afd.com
syndicatbaches.free.fr
Lincoln, Nebraska 10/10/2004 > 13/10/2004
European Council for Construction
Research, Development and Innova-
technet GmbH
tion www.eccredi.org www.technet-gmbh.com http://www.nuengr.unl.edu/ses2004/symposia/fibrous.html
Engineering Systems Technical University IFAI Expo 2004 Exhibition
International S.A. of Berlin
www.esi.fr www.survey.tu-berlin.de Pittsburgh 27/10/2004 > 29/10/2004
Newcastle University
Tensotech Consulting
www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/ http://www.ifaiexpo.info/
www.tensotech.com
p.d.gosling
Institut Français du Textile
Tentech 2nd Latin American Symposium Symposium
et de l'Habillement
www.tentech.nl
www.ifth.org Caracas (Venezuela) 04/05/2005 > 06/05/2005
University of Bath
Laboratorium Blum www.bath.ac.uk/departments/ http://www.arq.ucv.ve/idec/simposio/
arch/csemwebpage/light.htm
Messe Frankfurt/Techtextil University of Nottingham
Techtextil Frankfurt Trade Fair
www.techtextil.de www.nottingham.ac.uk/sbe
Frankfurt (Germany) 07/06/2005 > 09/06/2005
Hopkins Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Architects http://www.vub.ac.be/studioZ/ http://techtextil.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/home.html
www.hopkins.co.uk reZearch/lightweight.htm

2
 Mobile and
convertible booth for
election campaign
For an election campaign an 5 minutes into manageable
innovative, expressive and pieces, transportable in a small
mobile booth was needed for a car or by hand.
party as an alternative for the This inflating pneumatic
normally used umbrellas and ‘bubble’ is an eye-catcher and
tables. The pneumatic booth an attraction. In less than
fulfils all the requirements: it is 2 minutes the pneumatic

Umbrellas mobile and light, expressive and

convertible. On the top of an
aluminium mast with an
structure is totally inflated by a
solar powered ventilator.
The ventilator is regulated by a
for the Chamber of Commerce, integrated round table the two-step switch, which reduced
Würzburg membrane is connected over a
kind of hub. At the top of this
the air volume after the bubble
is totally inflated.
In the inner courtyard of the Chamber of Commerce at Würzburg hub the ventilator is located. The high translucency of the
three extraordinary umbrellas were installed, offering an impressive Inside the mast are the electrical membrane material allows the
sight. Each umbrella has a height of approximately 13 m and the total cables and the rainwater pneumatic balloon to glow
covered area is approximately 475 m2. The biggest umbrella has an
drainage. The foot of the booth under the influence of bright
edge length of 14 m x 14 m. The funnel shape, which often is used in
is a standard footing for market sunlight. For use during the
desert areas to collect rain, also has the advantage that it can drain
the surface rain via the posts, thus avoiding costly drainage systems. umbrellas. The whole booth night appropriate lighting can
can be demounted within be installed inside.
The main sub-structure of the roof consists of clamped steel posts
and a fine frame fixed on the posts by horizontal and sloped struts.
The extremely demanding tensioning process of the posts was carried
out via the top plate into the ceiling of the underground parking space
directly beneath.
Due to the use of ETFE-foil for these umbrellas their appearance is
very filigree and light. A cable-net integrated in the ETFE-foils
transmits the external loading to the frame and post.

Membrane structure: Three transparent funnel-shaped umbrellas,

consisting of ETFE-foils
Primary structure: Steel columns
Location: Inner courtyard of the Chamber of Commerce, Würzburg
End of project: October 2003
Client: Chamber of Commerce, Würzburg-Schweinfurt
Architects: Architekten BDA, Prof. Franz Göger/Georg Redelbach
Realization of membrane Structure: covertex GmbH, Obing Architect: Peter Pätzold
Technical data membrane Roof area: approx. 475 m2 Manufacturer: Peter Pätzold together with Jakob Frick Baumodelle
Number of layers: 1 Dimensions: Height: 2.6 m, Diameter 2.3 m, Covered area 4.2 m2
Thickness of foil: ETFE 200 µm printed with dots Material: Aluminium mast, galvanized steel foot, plywood,
Tensile strength: 52 N/mm2 PU coated PES fabric (light spinnaker fabric)
Fire class: DIN 4102 - B1 Ventilator: 12 V, 125 m3/h, solar module and battery, 5W

www.covertex.de [email protected]

3
A mobile tent structure forms an handling and the mobility of the
elegant and charming cover for complete tent structure without
the existing grandstand of the large cranage equipment. This
Scherenburgfestspiele in was an important aspect for the
Gmünden above the River Main. demountable tent roof that shall
A light translucent membrane be installed every year at the
roof provides shelter from wind beginning of the theatre season
and rain for the spectators and shall be removed afterwards
during the theatre summer by the team of the theatre
festival without destroying the technicians. The precise
open air athmosphere that this geometry and prestress of the
place is well known for. And tensile structure is guaranteed
being well integrated with the during the erection by the
historical red sandstone ruins of permanent anchorage points
the old castle this white streched and by the adjusted and fixed
textile roof creates an system length of the tent
architecturally unique situation structure single members.
for the theatre play. Also, its
attractive silhouette forms the A great challenge of this project
new symbol for the
summerfestival, that can be seen
Grandstand Tent Cover was to develop the design, to
manufacture and to finish the
from far out in the valley.
One interesting aspect of this
for the open-air theatre erection of the tent structure
within 12 weeks. Also, this tight
schedule had to include an
project is the first official
application of the Tensinet
Design Guide as a technical
in Scherenburg, official approval procedure by
the TÜV, which is the
authorized association for
reference for the engineering and
the approval procedure of this
Gemünden/Main, technical supervision in
Germany. So there was no time
tent structure with the TÜV,
which is the authorized
association for technical
Germany for any major changes of the
architectural and structural
design concept and the TÜV
supervision in Germany. had to agree from the first
free surface, which is a primary attachments, the pure textile
The membrane roof is requirement for keeping a good membrane structure allows design stage with the load
supported by two internally aesthetic appearance of the simple flexible handling and assumptions and with the safety
located lattice masts (10.5m membrane through the cleaning. The fabric is stretched concept for this project.
height), which were positioned succesive erection processes over by peripheral tubular masts and But neither the German DIN
within the existing grandstand at the years. Along its edges and suspension cables, which are codes include standards for the
the edge of the upper stairways. ridges the fabric is reinforced anchored to permanent windload distribution on typical
The position and the form of with high tensile Polyester belts. injection anchors in the ground tent shapes, nor was the time or
the lattice mast provide a At the membrane edge corners, or in the solid stone walls. the budget available to evaluate
comfortable and safe situation the belts are attached to the the windpressure distribution for
for the movement of the public The fabric qualities and the this particular tent shape by a
steel frame and the peripheral
and also create the minimum special structural detailing of the physical wind tunnel testing.
suspension cables by means of
disturbance for the visibility of membrane as well as the steel In this critical situation the TÜV
demountable steel plates. After
the spectators. Each one of structure detailing facilitate the accepted the Preliminary
the disconnection of all steel
these main masts supports two TensiNet Design Guide for
lattice outrigger beams. This tensioned membrane structures
outrigger system provides the as a reference. This state-of-the-
roof with structural art compendium for tensioned
independence regarding the structures that is written by the
adjacent historical building and well recommended Europeen
allows the great span towards designers and manufacturers of
the stage. The lattice steel tensioned structures also
structures also provide new well- includes in Chapter A1 a
positioned supports for recommendation for the
technical illumination windpressure cp value
Client: Theaterverein Scherenburg, Gemünden/ Main, Germany
equipment. distribution of free-standing tent
Architect, Engineer: Architekturbüro Rasch + Bradatsch roofs and the TÜV agreed to
For the membrane itself a Contractor: SL-Rasch GmbH apply this reference as basis for
Tenera 3T20 fabric is used. This Dimensions: Covered area 380m2 (max. width ±27m, max. depth ±17m) the structural calculation of the
is a 100% Fluorpolymer fabric Height of main masts 10.5m; height of external masts from 5 to 6m Scherenburg tent structure.
which has high tensile strength, Weight: 25kN (6.5kg/m2 covered)
is highly translucent (20%), dirt This application of the Tensinet
Material: Steel works - mild steel, hot dip galvanized
repellant and wheather - and Design Guide that is developed
Cables - galvanized steel cables with swaged sockets
UV- resistant. It was chosen for with the support of the
Membrane - Tenara 3T20 (630g/m2); rainwater tight fabric
its main charactersitics and for European Community and aims
from 100% Fluorpolymers at defining European Building
the architectural quality of the
white light that is shining Execution: April 2004 - June 2004 (approx. 3 months) Standards for tensile membrane
through the Teflon fiber and for structures was in fact a further
its high flexibility and friction [email protected] • http://www.sl-rasch.de/ step towards this common goal.

4
Lightweight with large span: Tensairity®
The Swiss company Airlight has developed, with the Tensairity® The main target of Airlight are civil engineers who, in a four-day
concept, a new pneumatic beam which enables spectacular introductory course, learn the theory behind the design and numerical
applications especially in civil engineering. The synergetic combination simulation of Tensairity® structures. The access to a vast amount of
of an air filled flexible tube, cables and rods gives with low pressure a related information and details speeds up the task of the engineer in
very light but strong structure element. the proposal and design phase.

What is the difference between Tensairity® and existing pneumatic

structures? The innovative Tensairity® concept is based on the fact
TENSAIRITY® PROJECT:
that air pressure is totally independent of the span and slenderness of
Breitling, Baselworld jewellery exhibition
the constituting elements. In other words: Tensairity® allows the
The Tensairity® beam elements with 10 m span having a diameter of
construction of very light roof structures with extremely large span.
just 30 cm (resulting in a slenderness ratio of 33) and an internal
The load bearing capacity of Tensairity® is so high that with a pressure
pressure of only 0.50 bar have a load bearing capacity of more than
of 200 mbar it is already possible to build temporary bridges even
25kN. Four Tensairity® beam elements can carry the Bentley
suitable for heavy transports. Compared to traditional airbeams,
Continental GT sports car and more than 20 people.
Tensairity® needs just 1% of air pressure. With such low pressure, air
losses are easily compensated.
Apart from civil engineering many other fields of application are
possible: floating structures, sport equipment, airships and even
aerospace applications.

Figure 1. FEM Analysis of Tensairity® beams

Basic principles
The basic idea of Tensairity® is to use low pressure air to stabilize
compression elements against buckling. The basic Tensairity®
structure consists of a cylindrical airbeam (a low pressure fabric
tube), a compression strut tightly connected to the membrane along
the whole length of the airbeam and at least one pair of cables
spiraled around the airbeam that
Compression are firmly connected to the
compression element at both ends
of the beam.
Airbeam Cable Figure 2. The Tensairity® girder: Figure 4. a, b, c Breitling,
compression element on top, airbeam and cables Baselworld jewelley exhibition.

The compression element is connected to the membrane and thus

can be considered
as a beam on an The beams, made of a
elastic foundation. silicon coated fiberglass
The buckling load fabric, are also
of such a beam is illuminated through a
then independent of glass window at one end
the span. giving a particular
lighting effect.
Figure 3. Temporary bridge
spanning 8 m
(First prototype) Building owner/customer: Breitling SA, Grenchen, Switzerland
Engineering: Airlight Ltd., Biasca, Switzerland
Airlight Ltd. Architect: Alain Porta, Lausanne, Switzerland
Manufacturer: Canobbio SpA, Castelnuovo Scrivia (Al), Italy
The Tensairity® technology has been developed and patented Completion: april, 2004
worldwide by Airlight Ltd. Switzerland. The company markets this Fabric: Silicone coated Fiberglas, Atex 5000, Interglas Technologies
technology and offers with licensing many other services such as
training and support by direct applications. The main mission is to [email protected]
help engineers in applying the technology and to further develop the
http://www.canobbio.com • http://www.airlight.biz
Tensairity® concept.

5
Figure 1 A two-storey snow hotel covered with Figure 2a, 2b Internal views of the snow hotel Figure 3 Airhall of 100m x 60m x 18m
the sow (reception in the centre, 8 rooms
around)

Bubbles in the snow

The first prototype measured
6m x 4m (diameter x height),
later adding 8 smaller ones of
size 3.5m x 2.3m. The biggest
In northern Finland we usually In Sweden they already had built the ground, because of the size one we made was 12m x 8.5m
have a lot of snow. Not in an structures from ice but not from the inner pressure has to be up and next winter we have planned
excessive way that we are forced snow. to 4-5 kPa to resist the weight of to build one of size 16m x 11m.
to use it for our buildings like the packed snow against the The most difficult thing is how
The first moulds were made by
Inuits make their igloos, but walls. On the other hand the to make snow that is structurally
combining plywood with timber
more in a playful way that we moulds should be easy to move stable enough, not how to make
or steel, but off course double
can have fun with it. In the early and handle to meet commercial the mould itself.
curved forms were difficult to
days of the air halls some people demands. Some experiments
accomplish.
were testing pneumatic seemed promising, showing that Anyway, those are small in size
structures as a mould for Our long-time client the structure could be built in compared to the sport halls we
concrete and different resin- (www.mailari.fi), renting big 10 minutes and was a closed have made in Finland: there are
based materials. tents for all kind of summer volume with a demountable two halls for football training,
In Finland, in a northern city festivals, asked us to build bottom. The smallest ones can size 120m x 68m x 21m and for
called Kemi (www.snow- moulds for making small igloos. be carried by two men having the next winter we have planned
castle.net), some people got the The biggest problem with the full pressure inside. The one of size 180m x 72m x 22m.
idea to build the biggest snow moulds using air pressure has pressure stiffens the whole Because of the Finnish weather
castle in the world. always been how to fix them to structure with its bottom. conditions these membranes are

Textile Grandstand Roofing for the New

“Estádio Intermunicipal Faro-Loulé” on the Algarve Coast
One of the most interesting more and more use of the The membrane building specialist Practicable details conforming
applications for Textile benefits of this design. The new CENO TEC GmbH carried out with the supporting framework
Architecture is the field of “Estádio Intermunicipal Faro- the work with the engineering structure to be provided
stadium roof construction. Loulé” which was opened specialist office IPL- externally had to be developed
Generous, airy, and translucent officially in a ceremonial opening Ingenieurplanung Leichtbau for production and mounting
roof designs which can also be on 23rd November 2003 is one GmbH who were already involved which made it possible to deviate
shaped in varied form can be of these examples. in the project implementation at loads burdening the membrane
seen worldwide in many stadiums In accordance with a layout a very early stage to make the structure in a clean and, as far as
in the meantime. The operators designed by the architects HOK architects´ design feasible for the possible, linear manner to the
of smaller stadiums also make Sportsevent and the AARQ, construction of the membrane, supporting framework. The
Atelier de Arquitectura in Lisbon, i.e. to harmonise the material- membrane surfaces and the
the south and east tribunes were specific and design-construction- individual cutting strips were
each arched over by a roof design type requirements which determined based on the
suspended from rope binders, characterise the construction of externally specified geometry.
using an additional steel arch the membrane such as sufficient Here the exact material behaviour
concept to support this curvature in opposite directions under load had to be determined
construction. to avoid water or snow pockets, by a load-controlled biaxial test
A total of 32 membrane fields suitable steel elongations and which in the end served to
each with a width of 14.40 fixing details appropriate for determine the compensation
metres and lengths varying from membranes. values for the cut. The individual
31.00 to 45.00 metres is roofed. In particular, it was important to fields - approx. 550 m2 in size
The covered base surface is a dissolve the relatively flat including the edge designs - were
total of 10168m2 in size. discontinuous course of the manufactured completely at the
Highly-resistant polyester fabric membrane and to transform it CENO TEC plant and shipped to
with double-sided PVC coating into a stable structure. the building site.
was selected as membrane There, the elements were
material. Due to the use of a final mounted to the supporting
paint coat with fluorine polymer framework within a short period.
paint, the material additionally In this respect, Textile Design can
features a dirt-resistant surface be compared with “Prefabricated
finish. House Operations“, meaning

6
 ANCHORED ON LAND
Maritime Station entrance building
in Alicante harbour
The original Maritime Station was built in the sixties with a very
impressive structure made of concrete shells. In 2003 it was
Figure 4 Airhall of 95m x 55m x 16m
completely renovated, and as part of this renovation, a new entrance
building was planned. Finally, the option of a light structure as a hall
for a heavy building was decided.
always manufactured in one
single piece: this is the The situation of the roof, on a breakwater, almost surrounded by the
traditional Finnish way not sea as part of the harbour, conditioned it in two different ways:
found in any other country.
On one side, the design should simulate the masts and yards of a Tall
The Finnish climate has always Ship. In order to get this, the whole structure is hanged on a
been suitable for air halls and mainmast (35m height, ∅619mm) in the middle and small masts
the number of built structures (∅219mm) on the border. The geometry of the tent, one half-cone as
has risen to more than 500 in a mainsail and one irregular paraboloid as a gaff-topsail, and the
fourty years which is a lot for a details of the structure are constant references to ships (top basket in
small country. the mainmast, six small masts: some of them as a kind of jib-boom,
Finland is also exporting a lot of stainless clews of the sails, and so).
steel framed PVC-covered
On the other side, the structural analysis should face expected wind
structures all around the world.
loads of almost 180 km/h, making the structure to be light but much
(www.besthall.com).
more resistant than others. For this reason, the membrane used was
Ferrari 1302 Fluotop T2, strong enough for this load and good for
dirt-resistance and saline environment. The steel used for masts and
http://www.tensotech.com arches is high resistant A52b/S355 JR.
[email protected]
The half-cone is attached under the top basket to the main mast, and
it has two fixed borders –curved steel tubes - and three more fixed
points on masts with four free borders - cables or bolt-ropes.
The paraboloid is anchored to the mainmast in a fixed border with
plates, and five more points to each mast with bolt-ropes between
them.

The mainmast is stabilised by cables in order to reduce flexion due to

eccentric forces transmitted from the membranes. These cables
(grouped in two families, one on top of the mainmast and he other
on the second membrane fixation) are fixed to the masts and finally
to foundations (which were designed for seismic loads).

The bottom of the mainmast is a spherical articulation designed to

fix the position of the mast with the upper family of cables.
On a lower position the mast is fixed to the concrete slab with a steel
crown: where the mast passes through the concrete slab.
This way, it does not work as an articulated mast.

The finishing of the main floor is a wooden deck, being an other

reference to the nautical origin of this Tall ship anchored on land.
that the mounting time
compared to the project term is Client: Alicante harbour authority
relatively short. The mounting
Location: Alicante harbour(Spain)
work was implemented within a
Main contractor: VIAS y
period of 5-6 weeks.
CONSTRUCCIONES
Architect AARQ Atelier de (Javier Vidal)
Arquitectura, Lissabon + Contractor: COMERCIAL
W.S. Atkins, UK MARÍTIMA L&Z, S.L.
Engineering IPL - Ingenieur- (José M. Lastra, Javier Tejera)
planung Leichtbau GmbH (D) Engineering: COMERCIAL MARÍTIMA
Contractor CENO TEC GmbH L&Z (José M. Lastra, Javier Tejera),
Fabric PVC/PES fabric with a THEMA
dirt-repelling final PVDF coating (Guillermo Capellán)
Covered Area 10168 m2 Fabric/Structure material suppliers:
Year of Construction 2003 [email protected]
FERRARI / FAMECA, COTNSA
http://www.arquitextil.net
[email protected] Year of construction: 2003
[email protected] Covered surface: 600 m2
www.ceno-tec.de

7
 New coatings and multi filaments
Material compounds have a long tradition in the textile technology and a growing perspective.
The company
eatures of Polymade ITT has made new products on the base of innovative textile components.

SOLAFLON coatings some µm's up to some 100µm, 2500nm Solaflon shows no between the polymer and the
whereas the polymer shows a high absorption. This means that also glass fibres is just a physical one
Thefield
With
the developed
theof
SOLAFLON a new flexibility even at bigger layers. the UVB and UVA are passing as mechanical anchor into the
coating system for innovative Solaflon. If glass fabrics are middle of the multifilaments of
technical textiles has been coated with Solaflon without the glass, this connection can be
developed which leads to a whole additives and such a material disturbed when sharp creases
product family for textile would be chosen for a football / occur. Due to this effect a darker
structures. SOLAFLON is a PTFE soccer stadium the growth of the line could be observed, but
based coating system with all grass would not be hindered. despite this visual effect the
well-known f That all together allows products surface remains absolutely tight.
fluorpolymers in in a very big range of That concerns also only trans-
constructional physics. The Solaflon is nearly 100% transmission, which generally is parent Solaflon coatings which
novelty consists in the fact that a transparent from 200nm up to only limited by the glass fabric. In don't contain any additive. That
glass clear PTFE derivate can be 2500nm. This means that it is this respect a transparency of can be made invisible by heating
used in any thickness of coating. not only UVC stable but it also 50% is nothing special. up the coating with a hot air
Because the coating appears as a shows no optical change after With the variable thickness of the stream, when the fabric is
transparent and flexible film on strong radiation with high energy coating light and flexible textiles installed and is under tension.
both sides of the glass fabric, the quanta like gamma radiation, can be created. Even with the Due to the high transparency of
coating is even not visible at the where normal PTFE disintegrates. worst cross creases the Solaflon Solaflon any colouring is
first glance. Within the range of the solar film on the glass fabric remains possible. Each RAL colour can be
technology allows coatings from radiation from 300nm up to unaffected. Because the bonding added and the result is a brilliant,

Last June the Ninth International Mr. Hubert Reiter from Covertex
Workshop on the Design and
Practical Realisation of Archi-
Textile Roofs 2004 Gmbh gave a presentation on the
use of ETFE foil, which can mainly
tectural Membrane Structures was held at the Technical University Berlin be used in architecture in two ways: mechanically prestressed forms and
and was co-financed by Ferrari, technet Gmbh and TensiNet. The main pneumatic cushion structures. He described the design and erection
objectives of this workshop were to provide fundamental information, as process of The football Globe, a 670 m2 transportable structure, made out
well as presenting the state-of-the-art in textile roof engineering. Ever since of inflatable ETFE hexagons and pentagons, patched together to form a
its conception nine years ago, the event has been growing in number of giant football.
participants, bringing together the expertise of successful engineers and Textile manufacturer Ferrari S.A. was represented by Mr. P. Burnat, Mr. F.
architects as well as the enthusiasm of newcomers to the topic. This year’s Reitsma and Mr. J. Tejera who gave a lecture on SKY®300, a newly
event brought together about 90 people from over 25 countries worldwide. developed silicone coated fabric material for interior applications which has
In addition to a comprehensive programme of lectures presented in English high flame retardency. The benefits of silicone are a good resistance to UV.,
by key figures from the membrane structure industry and academia, humidity and chemical aggressions.
opportunities for the study and hands-on development of practical case-
Mr. Ingo Lishke from Textil Bau Gmbh considered
studies in an informal tutorial environment were provided, touching
the impact of climbing for textile projects. As an
subjects such as computational modelling, design process, detailing,
illustration, the cladding of the TUB’s main
environmental and economical factors, physical modelling and materials.
building was climbed with the help of
The general structure of the Workshop and the ‘key-note’ topics and Gewerbeklettern Erfurt.
lectures were the same as last year, but new for this year’s event was that
Prof. Josep Llorens stated that detailing for fabric
some presentations focussed on the Project Studies.
structures is not yet thoroughly documented or
Ms. Stefania Lombardi (Canobbio Spa) gave a general introductory lecture widespread practice, even though designing and
on tensile structures and how an idea can be transformed into a real-life evaluating connections and joints is critical to the
membrane structure, providing us with an insight on the process involved. overall concept and the resulting structure.
Dr. Dieter Ströbel of technet Gmbh explained the working of EASY software Ms. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rosemarie Wagner shared some ideas on a recent
for the computational modelling of lightweight structures, dealing with development in tension structures concerning a system for modelling and
formfinding, load analysis and cutting pattern generation. simulation of membrane structures. It allows describing the design process
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel(VUB) was represented in all its aspects and allows interfering of the user at each step. A non-linear
by newcomers Tom Van Mele, Niels De Temmerman optimization algorithm is used, based on a FEM-formulation.
and Caroline Henrotay, all architectural engineers, In sessions, parallel to the lectures, a Computational Modelling Workshop
two of which gave their first ever presentation for an was led by Dieter Ströbel and in an exhibition on Temporary Architecture
international some projects by students from the Technical University Berlin were
audience. They presented.
presented their
The event was concluded by an interactive discussion, led by Jürgen
research topic
Hennicke and Josep Llorens, on the physical aspects and construction
‘Interactive
details of membrane structures.
Kinetic
Architecture’ We’re looking forward to the ‘10th anniversary’ edition of this event next
and year which will be held from 26th till the 28th of May 2005.
‘4-dimensional Design’, both dealing
with adaptability, but within a
www.textile-roofs.com • [email protected]
different timeframe.

8
colourful and glossy material. coating with a thin layer of • Glass (yarns / plied yarns /
With the incorporation of Irodin Solaflon (about 10µm). Due to rovings)
particles the full range of metallic the slight absorption of the far IR • Polyester yarns
colours is available, but also the by Solaflon the effect of • Aramide fibers / fibres of
shine of colourful interference aluminium remains nearly the high tensile strength
phenomena's can be realized. same, but it is secured against • Other textile filamentsin
Due to the optical neutrality of corrosion by the Solaflon combination with coating
the Solaflon matrix also coating. materials like
functional particles can be built One of the main properties is the • PVC
in. Out of this reason a “heat polarity of Solaflon. That allows • PU / PE
stop” effect can be generated. simple seams to be made with RF • SOLAFLON
Special pigments which are welding systems like those for • PVDF / FEP / PFA
transparent in the visible, welding PVC. All membranes
The TECHNOFIL filaments
especially for green light and qualities can be treated like
coating is performed in an
which are reflecting the total Polyester/PVC, what means that
extrusion process. This technology
infrared allowing transparent many companies are able to
allows the use of nearly all modern
structures with cold light. The tailor this material.
thermoplastic materials as
membranes will remain cold TECHNOFIL filaments are used
Solaflon can be used for coating, whereas the customized
because the IR is reflected and for various products like screens,
technical fabrics which have to plastic can be modified in all
not absorbed. blinds, shading fabrics, filter
fulfil the A2 fire prevention directions (flame retardant, UV
Another feature is the possibility standards. protection, gloss, colour, polymer materials, insect screens,
to create a low emissivity at the softening agents etc.) conveyor belts, belt systems and
surface of the membrane. That TECHNOFIL filaments Besides the wide field of PTFE supporting fabrics
will be done by aluminising the coated glassfibers and PVC coated
www.polymade-itt.de
glass fabric by PVD (physical TECHNOFIL filaments are yarns, PET fibres, the importance of
Michael Blum
vapour deposition) and then which consist of various technical other coatings especially of
[[email protected]]
sheltering the metallic aluminium multi filaments as core media like fluorpolymer coatings is growing.

CP values for simple ridge and valley structures

The following paper is an extract From this investigation diagrams be determined using the External Cp Values
from the European Design and tables giving average Cp Eurocode approach based on Sides Open
Guide for Tensile Surface values have been obtained. The the distribution and size of any Ratio of 2.5 4
Structures. Cp values given are on the same openings in the building Valley Width
basis as those given in the envelope. The mean Cp values to Valley Depth
Appendix A1 of the European Approximate 39 26
Eurocode for conventional are given below as an average
Design Guide for Tensile Surface slope of
structures and are intended for value for a zone defined as
Structures has been prepared so membrane (deg)
use with the Eurocode. shown in the diagrams. They
as to give general guidance on
The external Cp values can be are suitable for the design of the
the Cp factors that may be Cp Zones
used in the following equation: membrane and its supporting
expected for typical tensile A +0.6 +0.3
structure but not for cladding
structure shapes. The term Cp External Wind Pressure (load)= -0.39
panels and individual purlins,
refers to the wind pressure Site Wind pressure B +0.23 +0.25
which will be subject to higher
coefficient that multiplies the x External Mean Cp -0.33
local loading as described in the
site wind pressure to give the C -0.41 -0.2
The site wind pressure can be Code. The behaviour of the
wind loading pressure. D -0.2 -0.3
found using the Eurocode wind and hence the Cp values
Archive wind-tunnel tests of procedure for terms qref will not vary greatly with small E -0.11 -0.45
tensile structures, as well as (reference mean wind velocity changes in overall structure size. F -0.38 -0.35
literature covering both rigid pressure) and ce(ze) (exposure The Cp values given here can be G -0.38 -0.8
and tensile structures have been coefficient - this includes for the assumed to be valid for H -0.33 -0.5
investigated for information terrain and gust factors structures with bay dimensions I -0.33 -0.9
giving typical external Cp values pertaining to the site). The of 10-100m. J +0.14 +0.35
for four types of simple Eurocode includes windspeed -0.3 -0.3
Shape parameters: K +0.58 0.3
membrane structure. The types maps for the whole of Europe
The defining shape parameters -0.29
considered are: and from which the basic site
for this type of structure are L +0.38 +0.3
a) Cone reference mean wind velocity
valley width -0.42 -0.2
b) Ridge and Valley pressure can be determined. a) Ratio:
Closed
valley depth M -0.38 -1.2
c) Hypar/Saddle Internal/undersurface Cp values
b) Open or closed sides. N -0.38 -0.6
d) Hybrid cantilevered canopy for the ridge/valley forms should
O +0.38 -0.4
-0.37
P +0.45 +0.2
-0.46 -0.2
Q +0.12 +0.3
-0.27 -0.3

Figure 1 Typical “Ridge and Valley” Figure 2 Ridge and Valley Cp Table External Cp Values
Type of Membrane Structure. Zone Definition for “Ridge and Valley” Type Structures

9
Abstract: As the New Bangkok
International Airport Projects New Bangkok International Airport (NBIA)

The „Inner Liner“

required the implementation of
a new material concept, it was a
very special task to develop the
inner membrane, which is also
called “Inner Liner”. The
following article should give a
comprehensive overview and
also describe some special issues
of this project.

1. General features of
the membrane
materials
The Werner Sobek Engineers,
the company Transsolar and the
Laboratory for Dynamics and
Acoustics in Stuttgart have
commonly created the concept
of the 3–layers membranes,
which should guarantee, that
(besides the static requirements
Model of the New Bangkok International Airport
of the construction) the air-
traffic noise emission close to 2. Special features Other than polyester based polymer, which had been
taxiways and runways should be fabrics, glass weaves as coating developed out of the group of
of the INNER LINER and composite bases are able to fluoropolymers. This film-
reduced as much as possible.
Additionally it was required to There were no materials in the support the flame retardancy forming ability should allow to
support the energetic concept of market available, which could requirement A2. Although reopen the grid-holes of the
the construction with new fulfil the complete set up of the aluminium coatings on glass weave after the coating of the
composites and coating requirements. Especially the weaves seem not be too com- membrane was completed, and
technologies of the membranes. required low emissivity and the plicated in general, but it’s a therewith to enable a high
sound absorption established special problem, to make sure sound absorption.
Besides it was also obligatory, created a too high obstacle for that the aluminisation is embed-
that the „Inner Membrane” had The weave design and coating
the conventional materials. The ded and does not lead to an composition allowed exceeding
to be certified in accordance to company PD Interglas AG took oxidation, what would destroy
the flame retardancy classifi- the fulfilment of the required
the first task to develop the basic the reflective property of the alu- noise reduction coefficient of >
cation DIN 4102 A2. The outer glass-grid – a fabric which would minium layer in the far Infra-Red.
membrane was chosen as the 0.7 to a new textile achievement
allow an aluminium-coating and value of 0.89.
classical and reliable Glass-PTFE Because all well known coating
could perform a sound absorp-
composite with high trans- composites like PTFE, PVC or Interglas AG asked Polymade to
tion and a light transmission by
lucency, which has been proofed any other plastic materials are demonstrate the feasibility of
the correct grid-hole-opening-
long term in textile architecture. not suitable for the task, a the task in between 6 weeks
ratio. It was suggested that
brand new coating polymer after November 2002, because
The medial layer is fabricated as aluminium-coatings on glass
became the key element of the Polymade had developed a
highly transparent polycar- fabrics would perform physically
product development. coating composite which had
bonate, which is mounted in a similar effects like aluminium
foils, the so called “Low It was a high transparent, non become known to the market
steel-grid construction.
Emissivity” or heat reflection. combustible and film-forming under the company’s brand
The third and from inside visual “SOLAFLON”.
“Inner Liner” of this membrane After having demonstrated the
construction was asked to fulfil general feasibility and pre-serial
a composition of new require- product testing, the complex
ments of flame retardancy, production logistics of this
acoustic and energetic composite had to be planned
properties, light transmittance and coordinated, especially
and light reflectance and last because a width of 2.20 m had
but not least with the general to be aluminised in an industrial
appearance of the material. available vapour deposition
process. Other than in
conventional slow coating
processing for industrial fabrics,
the aluminisation is processed
on a high speed level of 300 m/
minute. This is a very difficult
process to a relatively sensitive
glass-grid weave, which requires
unusual quality securing steps.
Micro perforations Emissivity of the aluminised membrane Before receiving the order from
10
the general contractor of NBIA a mirror and are also sensitive mechanical strength, LOW E,
Company ITO, numerous tests like a mirror. All kind of creases transmission and sound
had to be performed, mainly in the weaves appear as dark or absorption will remain
aiming to the long term bright marks. This caused a unchanged. When some years
mechanical strength of the special demand to the fabri- ago the designers of the
composite. This qualification cation, the transportation and membrane construction
program was coordinated under the assembly, where each specified the Inner Liner, there
the product name A-Tex 2500 approximately 1100m2 pre- was no material composite
Low E and was coordinated Material inspection fabricated membrane has to be available, which could fulfil the
between the manufacturer of installed at the construction side bunch of demands. This
the glass fabric, the coating 3. Fabrication process in one piece. Furthermore glass- challenge, to introduce a sound
company, B&O Hightex and the of the INNER LINER weaves don’t have any elasticity, absorbing and open aluminised
Laboratory Dr. Blum in The required glass-grid-fabric therefore a highly specific glass fabric with LOW E and
Stuttgart. The material logistics was woven at the PD Interglas cutting pattern, a faultless other optical properties was the
for the roofing material such as weaving factory in fabrication and frictionless task which had to be matched.
purchase, appearance control, Malmerspach/ France. Before assembly has to be secured. Without these nearly impossible
documentation etc. is executed the fabric roles could be sent to Each avoidable contact towards challenges and the coincidence
by OGAWATEC, Tokyo to get aluminised, they had to get a the optically sensible material of visionary demands on the one
support the general contractor SOLAFLON-base coating. could influence the appearance side and the new SOLAFLON
ITO, Bangkok and the Without this base coating it is of the membrane. Keeping that technology on the other side,
fabricating company B&O not possible, to get the required in mind and observing the the break through of this
Hightex, Riemsting, Germany. reflection values of the handling instructions, the innovative material wouldn’t
Pure glass based fabrics without aluminium. The aluminium technical requirements as have happened.
a sufficient polymer coating deposition is processed in three
cannot be used in tailoring and steps up to a thickness of
fabrication, because the 120nm. After returning the
material is too sensitive. charges of about 20000m2 to
30000m2, the further
The process of coating should
fluoropolymer-coating and
be carried out asymmetrically,
micro-perforation is processed
that no oxidation can occur on
in four different fabrication
the aluminium side, without
steps. The appearance
overruling the “LOW E” effect
inspection and role recording
by the fluoropolymer coating
took place at the weaving
with an absorption in the far
factory in Malmerspach/
Infra-Red. A stronger coating on
France. Only there, Interglas AG
the back side should allow an
had an accurate sleeve
easier handling of the
construction which allows a fold
membrane in tailoring, welding
free winding and inspecting of
and assembly. The required
the approximately 600kg heavy
solar reflection of the white side
roles. Precise protocols allow
with more than 60% could be
economical cutting patterns and
guaranteed due to the trans-
the optimisation of the tailoring.
parent coating of SOLAFLON.
To fulfil the required optical 4. Demands on the
features of the fabrication in appearance of the
104 “Typical Bays”, a suitable INNER LINER
technical “connection” or seam, As glass weaving without any
had to be qualified. The defects is not possible, it was a
demand of a weld strength, special challenge to reduce the
which corresponds to the number and the allocation of
material strength with the defects under the norm of The Inner Liner at the New Bangkok
3250N/5cm, could be achieved International Airport
allowed defects for solar-
by the availability of a protective screens, falling short
transparent and compatible from a maximum of 10m per
welding-aid. The coating 100 ongoing-meter and mostly
material does not lead to losses to offer 25m middle pieces of
of the tensile strength of the the typical Bays for zero defect
fabric, but improves the glass “cutting patterns”.
filament protective embedding. A quality improvement program
Consequently it was possible to implemented by the participants
keep the tensile strength after could guarantee that the defect
the micro-perforation of the number could be reduced to
membrane. As aluminium approximately 30% of the
coating is an energy barrier for specified standard. For this
the economical RF welding- reason it was possible to www.polymade-itt.de
method -what generally is assemble more than the Michael Blum [[email protected]]
possible with SOLAFLON- the specified cutting patterns. Walter Duerbaum [[email protected]]
seams had to be made with a so Aluminium coated glass-weaves
called heating bar welding. Prof. G.K.Brueck [[email protected]]
are functioning as a reflector or
11
 TensiNet will assemble a list of universities dealing
ACADEMIC with Textile Architecture in terms of research and/or education.
INSTITUTIONS They will be mentioned one by one in TensiNews.
FACULTY OF BUILDING TECHNOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF EINDHOVEN
Double curved pre-stressed net - Project Lightweight Structures 2004
For many years now, the Struc- Relaxation with the element and donated all the materials for
tural Design Department of the forces based on their force this project. A polypropylene
Building Technology Faculty at density and length. The TU- mesh of 100mmx100mm ∅3mm,
the University Eindhoven, has Eindhoven has developed a and polypropylene edge ropes 4
been active in the field of light- program called Convers to ∅5mm were used. After finishing pre-stress in the structure. With
weight structures. Research, convert the cable layout of the the calculations and producing the intension of developing this
education and projects give GSA model into an equal mesh the working drawings, the yearly project into an international
students the opportunity to study and its cutting pattern. The mesh students were divided into two event, we would like to welcome
this subject. Each year we will generated was 110mmx110mm groups, one producing the net all students and people interested
organise a project in which the instead of the 100mmx100mm and the other producing the edge in participating next year.
students design, calculate, mesh we assembled. This was ropes. The edge ropes and sup-
produce and assemble a done to incorporate a 10% port points were given a unique
particular lightweight structure. stretch due to the required pre- code to co-ordinate the
These projects will increase the stress in the net. This equal mesh production. The connection
understanding of the structural replaced the model in GSA, and between the edge ropes and the
behavior, the architectural was used to calculate the net was made with steel wires of
freedom, and the important prestress forces in the edge ropes. about 70mm long, pinned threw
issues of its production. This year With the forces and the pre-stres- the ropes and twisted for fixation.
the assignment was to design a sed lengths of the edge ropes, the To assemble the structure, we
sculpture of a double curved, pre- unstressed length between the used the railing of the atrium as
stressed net with an equal mesh, connections with the net could be support points. The structure was
5
to hang in the atrium of the calculated knowing the elasticity calculated with a force of
Building Technology Faculty. Four modulus of the rope. For this, the 50N/100mm in the net (15% of http://www.tue.nl
groups of three or four students properties of the materials were its ultimate load), which gave a [email protected]
started to make several designs by tested, including their ultimate maximum force of 1200N in the
sketching, using nylon stockings force. The firm Huck Torimex BV edge ropes (30% of its ultimate 1 • Formfinding model in GSA
2 • Net with equal mesh (blue) following the shape
and the formfinding module of in Katwijk aan Zee, producing load) and 1700N on the support
of the formfinding model (brown)
the computer program GSA 8.0. among other things nets of ropes points. During assembly the 3 • Axial forces in the ropes
GSA is an internal developed and steel cables, showed interest locations of the corners of the net 4 • Connecting edge ropes and the net with knots
program by Arup. For the in using their product for double where measured to justify the 5 • Assembled net in the atrium of the Building
Technology Faculty, TUE
formfinding it uses Dynamic curved pre-stressed structures, length of the span ropes and the

1 2 3

The European Design Guide for there is a need for people to be

Tensile Surface Structures is a L I T E R A T U R E better informed about the
product of over three years work European Design Guide for Tensile Surface Structures general behaviour and the
by the members of TensiNet - Brian Forster, Marijke Mollaert advantages and disadvantages of
A Thematic Network for ISBN: 9 789080 868717 • Pages: 354, Soft Cover • Published: 2004 • _100.00
using tensile surface structures in
Upgrading the Built relation to more conventional
Environment in Europe through Tensile Structures, which was initiated buildings. For instance, the internal environment is seen as a key issue -
on 1 March 2001. This guide and the other activities of TensiNet were how do such enclosures behave and to what functions are they suited?
funded by the European Commission, under the There is also the question of maintenance. How do these
Competitive and Sustainable Growth (Growth) Programme structures differ from ‘normal’ buildings? These issues are
of Framework Programme 5. covered in the design guide. It is a generally held view that
The tensile surface structure business has grown Europe needs a code for Tensile Surface structures and this
considerably in the last 15 years and is predicted to grow design guide is a valuable and necessary step to a pan-
further. Such structures are becoming bigger and more European Normative document. Once an EN is available
sophisticated. More clients are interested in using them but the industry becomes respectable and clients’ confidence
they are still considered to be special – a new technology. should increase. In turn, that should lead to more business
If tensile surface structures do not figure widely in the for constructors and designers. Nevertheless, this European
design vocabulary of European architects, engineers, urban Design Guide for Tensile Surface Structures is not intended
planners, building owners and national authorities, their to be a European standard. However, as a ‘state-of-the-art’
application will continue to be constrained. Therefore, report it is a step in that direction.

12