SUSPENDED ROOF
STRUCTURES
Ar. [Link]
[Link]
Tensile structure
A tensile structure is a construction of elements carrying
only tension and no compression or bending.
Tensile structures are the most common type of thin-shell
structures.
Most tensile structures are supported by some form of
compression or bending elements, such as masts,
compression rings or beams.
A tensile membrane structure is most often used as
a roof, as they can economically and attractively span
large distances.
Types of Suspended roof structures
Flexible Membrane
Cable Network
• Flexible membrane is generally used for temporary structures.
• Cable network is more popularly used in permanent structures.
• Anchorages are required to resist the tension in the cables.
Heavy foundations
Pile foundations Perimeter compression rings
Part of the building Interior tension rings
Types of structure with significant
tension members.
Linear structures Three-dimensional Surface-stressed
structures structures
• Suspension bridges • Bicycle wheel (can be • Prestressed membranes
• Draped cables used as a roof in a • Pneumatically stressed
• Cable horizontal orientation) membranes
stayed beams or trusses • 3D cable trusses • Gridshell
• Cable trusses • Fabric structure
• Straight tensioned
cables
Types of Cable Network Systems
Cable Supported/Stayed
Cable Suspended
Cable cum Air Supported Roofs.
Shapes of Cable Suspended
Systems
Synclastic-Positive Gaussian Curvature
Anticlastic-Negative Gaussian Curvature
Surface of Single Curvature-Zero
Gaussian Curvature-Very Rare
Double layered cable systems can be
used to form synclastic or anticlastic
surfaces.
Cable Stayed Grid Work Cable supported Cantilever roofs
Suspended Roof Membrane Suspended Roof Grid work
Structure
Cable Suspended Roofs can also be classified as-
Single Layered
Double Layered
Single Layered
Double Layered
MATERIALS :
•Steel Cables : The high tensile strength of steel combined
with the efficiency of simple tension, makes a steel cable the
ideal structural element to span large distances.
•Nylon and plastics are suitable only for temporary structures,
spanning small distances.
•Other structural members like masts, compression rings, arches
or beams and compression struts may be of concrete or steel
preferably. Struts may also be of timber.
•Suspension Cables, because of their being stressed only by
simple tension – with regard to weight/span are the most
economical system of spanning space.
Cable Stayed Bridge
Millau Viaduct, France
Cable Suspended Bridge
Membrane structures
Membrane structures are spatial structures made out of tensioned
[Link] structural use of membranes can be divided into following:
pneumatic structures,
tensile membrane structures
cable domes.
Either a cable frame or a skeleton frame can form the structure that sustains
the membrane.
A membrane material has a natural tendency to curve, and although it can
endure tension, it cannot withstand compression or bending.
Synthetic fibres and glass fibres are now utilized and coating materials have
enabled the structures to contain both water and fire resistant qualities.
Membrane structures carry loads by membrane forces only, with no or
only insignificant bending.
If tensile and compressive membrane forces are permitted, we speak of
shells.
If the compressive forces are eliminated, we speak of tensile
membrane structures.
In order to eliminate the compressive forces in the membrane structure,
they are to be pretensioned or prestressed which means that tensile
stresses are to be built up in the surface to the extent, that even after
superimposing the outer loads (dead load, wind, snow, etc.) the
structure remains stable.
Types of tensile membranes
cable nets with quadrangular (<<square») meshes
cable nets with triangular meshes
textile (foldable) membranes
metal (non-foldable) membranes.
Advantages
• Tensile membrane structures provide virtually unlimited designs of
Flexible Design distinctive elegant forms that can be realized because of the unique
Aesthetics flexible characteristics of membrane resulting in an iconic and unique
structure or feature for any building owner, city or even region.
Outstanding • In daylight, fabric membrane translucency offers soft diffused naturally lit
spaces reducing the interior lighting costs.
Translucency • while at night, artificial lighting creates an ambient exterior luminescence.
• With several different membranes in the market place such as PTFE fiber
Good glass, ETFE film, PVC, and ePTFE, the durability and longevity of tensile
Durability membrane structures have been proven and built in climates ranging from
the frigid arctic to the scorching desert heat.
Lightweight • The lightweight nature of membrane is a cost effective solution that requires
less structural steel to support the roof compared to conventional building
Nature materials, enabling long spans of column-free space.
Maintenance • Tensile membrane systems are somewhat unique in that they require minimal
maintenance when compared to an equivalent-sized conventional building.
• Most tensile membrane structures have high sun reflectivity and low
Cost Benefits absorption of sunlight, thus resulting in less energy used within a building
and ultimately reducing electrical energy costs.
Code • Depending on the type of membrane and overall project design, tensile
membrane systems appropriately meet the various associated building code
Compliance requirements.
• Whether it’s a permanent durable structure that needs to last longer than 30
Variety of years, an insulated membrane system for thermal performance, or a
Membranes deployable flexible application, there are a variety of tensile membranes to
choose from to meet specific performances for your next building project.
illustrating a conic and its anticlastic shape
Another anticlastic shape is the hypar
Anticlastic structure with arch supports
