Analysis and Design of Tensile Membrane Structures: Challenges and Recommendations
Publication: Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 24, Issue 3
Abstract
Tensile membrane structures (TMS) are increasingly in demand due to their ability to span large distances with elegance and structural efficiency. Because TMS is comparatively new to the structural engineering world, there are relatively limited resources available explaining the behavior of such structures. Most countries do not have documented guidelines for the analysis and design of TMS. This paper presents the existing challenges and provides some recommendations on the analysis and design of membrane structures. Emphasis is placed on form-finding, which is the initial equilibrium analysis of membranes. Attention is also given to understanding the behavior of TMS subjected to environmental forces, especially because of their inherent flexibility that imparts a complex interaction between the form and the applied forces.
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Published In
Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 24 • Issue 3 • August 2019
Copyright
© 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 4, 2018
Accepted: Jan 22, 2019
Published online: Apr 5, 2019
Published in print: Aug 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Sep 5, 2019
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