MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

 spatial structures made out of tensioned membranes.
 Membranes are also used as non-structural cladding
 Membrane can support both tension and compression
and thus withstand bending moment.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
Membrane Structure

Membrane Structure
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

Membrane Structure
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

Membrane Structure
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

Membrane Structure
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

ANTICLASTIC AND SYNCLASTIC
FOR MOMENT STRESS:
 ANTICLASTIC – A FORM IN WHICH
TWO DOMINANT AXES CURVE IN
OPPOSITE DIRECTION
 SYNCLASTIC – TWO DOMINANT
CURVES BOTH MOVE IN THE SAME
DIRECTION
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

 An air-supported (or air-inflated) structure is any
building that derives its structural integrity from the use
of internal pressurized air.
 In practice, any inflated surface involves a double
curvature.
 Therefore, the most common shapes for air-supported
structures are hemispheres, ovals, and half cylinders
 Membrane can support both tension and compression
and thus withstand bending moment.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
1. Pneumatic Structure

 An air-supported (or air-inflated) structure is any
building that derives its structural integrity from the use
of internal pressurized air.
 In practice, any inflated surface involves a double
curvature.
 Therefore, the most common shapes for air-supported
structures are hemispheres, ovals, and half cylinders
 Membrane can support both tension and compression
and thus withstand bending moment.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
1. Pneumatic Structure

Envelope
• They can be made up of different materials.
• Cannot be used as one continuous material.
• Material are seamed together by sealing, heat
bonding or mechanical jointing.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
System Components

Cable System
• They act as the supporting system.
• They experience tension force due to the upward
force of the air.
• Can be placed in one or two directions to create a
network and for better stability.
• They do not fail since they are pulled tight
enough to absorb the external loads.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
System Components

Pumping Equipment
• It is used to supply and maintain internal pressure inside
the structure.
• Fans, blowers or compressors are used for constant
supply of air.
• The amount of air required depends on the weight of the
material and the wind pressure.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
System Components

Entrance Doors
• Doors can be ordinary doors or airlocks.
•Airlock minimize the chances of having an unevenly
pressurized environment.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
System Components

Foundations
•Pneumatic structures are secured to ground using heavy
weights, ground anchors or attached to a foundation.
•Weight of the material and the wind loads are used to
determine the most appropriate anchoring system.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
System Components

2 Types of 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.
-These systems are provided with low pressure air;
hence have to be provided with continuous supply of air.
-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.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
1. Pneumatic Structure

 Air Infalted 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.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
1. Pneumatic Structure

 Air Infalted 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.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
1. Pneumatic Structure

 Air Infalted 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.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
1. Pneumatic Structure

 Air Infalted 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.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
1. Pneumatic Structure

 Air Infalted 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.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
1. Pneumatic Structure

 Air Infalted 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.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
1. Pneumatic Structure

 Air Infalted 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.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
1. Pneumatic Structure

 Air Infalted 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.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
1. Pneumatic Structure

•Wind and Snow loads are the primary loads that are
acting on pneumatic structures.
• As pneumatic structures are tensile, the envelope has the
ability to gain stiffness in order to withstand the loads acting
on them.
•Wind loads produce a lateral force on the structures
and snow load causes downward forces on
envelope.
• Pneumatic structures are designed to withstand
wind load of 120 mph and a snow load of 40
pounds/yard.
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
Loadings

MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
Loadings

 A structure where the
exterior shell is a
fabric material spread
over a framework.
 The fabric is
maintained in tension
in all directions to
provide stability.
2. Cable & Tensile Structure
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
 Discussed by the previous group (Tensile)

 Also known as the “ Tension Domes”
 A tension dome is a structural system that uses the
tensile strength of materials rather than the compression
qualities of usual domes.
 was first proposed by David Geiger and first employed in
the roofs for the Olympic Gymnastics Hall and the
Fencing Hall in Seoul.
 A typical cable dome consists of ridge cables, diagonal
cables, hoop cables, vertical struts, an inner tension ring
and an outer compression ring.
3. Cable Domes
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

 Also known as the “ Tension Domes”
 A tension dome is a structural system that uses the
tensile strength of materials rather than the compression
qualities of usual domes.
 was first proposed by Geiger and first employed in the
roofs for the Olympic Gymnastics Hall and the Fencing
Hall in Seoul.
 A typical cable dome consists of ridge cables, diagonal
cables, hoop cables, vertical struts, an inner tension ring
and an outer compression ring.
3. Cable Domes
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

 Also known as the “ Tension Domes”
 A tension dome is a structural system that uses the
tensile strength of materials rather than the compression
qualities of usual domes.
 was first proposed by Geiger and first employed in the
roofs for the Olympic Gymnastics Hall and the Fencing
Hall in Seoul.
 A typical cable dome consists of ridge cables, diagonal
cables, hoop cables, vertical struts, an inner tension ring
and an outer compression ring.
3. Cable Domes
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

 Also known as the “ Tension Domes”
 A tension dome is a structural system that uses the
tensile strength of materials rather than the compression
qualities of usual domes.
 was first proposed by Geiger and first employed in the
roofs for the Olympic Gymnastics Hall and the Fencing
Hall in Seoul.
 A typical cable dome consists of ridge cables, diagonal
cables, hoop cables, vertical struts, an inner tension ring
and an outer compression ring.
3. Cable Domes
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

 Also known as the “ Tension Domes”
 A tension dome is a structural system that uses the
tensile strength of materials rather than the compression
qualities of usual domes.
 was first proposed by Geiger and first employed in the
roofs for the Olympic Gymnastics Hall and the Fencing
Hall in Seoul.
 A typical cable dome consists of ridge cables, diagonal
cables, hoop cables, vertical struts, an inner tension ring
and an outer compression ring.
3. Cable Domes
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

 Also known as the “ Tension Domes”
 A tension dome is a structural system that uses the
tensile strength of materials rather than the compression
qualities of usual domes.
 was first proposed by Geiger and first employed in the
roofs for the Olympic Gymnastics Hall and the Fencing
Hall in Seoul.
 A typical cable dome consists of ridge cables, diagonal
cables, hoop cables, vertical struts, an inner tension ring
and an outer compression ring.
3. Cable Domes
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

WHAT IS THE WORLD’S FIRST PERMANENT
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE?
 SPORTS PAVILION
AT LA VERNE
COLLEGE,
CALIFORNIA
 FROM 1973 TO
PRESENT
 1993 – TEST
RESULT:
 MINIMAL
DETERIORATION
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

WHAT IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST MEMBRANE
STRUCTURE?
 MILLENIUM DOME
IN GREENWICH, UK
 COMPLETED IN
1999
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

 To be discuss by the next group (Geodesic)
2. Cable Domes
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE