Design of Membrane Structure

Membrane structures are designed and engineered by computer analysis.  Such design process will be in several steps.   Firstly the initial 3D analysis model according to the design dimensions should be created with triangular analysis elements.  Each triangular element contains mechanical properties representing the membrane material and will converge to the final shape after finding the equilibrium of stress of all elements by iterated calculations.  The initial model should be the stabilized shape and provide with the rigidity of the structure, by inducing pre-stress forces in each element, against external forces.   At the initial model, pre-stresses in all elements are mostly equal in warp and fill direction.
External loads should be applied to the initial membrane model for stress analysis.  Mechanical properties for membrane, cables and steel should be input in the initial model.  Then, external loads should be applied to nodes related to the loading area.   The initial shape will then deform as it takes external forces and find the final shape of equilibrium by iteration.  Final forces of membrane, cables and steel for loading cases such as wind or snow will be obtained from the deformed model after analysis.  The initial model is also used for patterning for fabrication of membrane.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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