16 - Recent developments in architectural fabric structures in China

Abstract

Architectural fabric structures have been very widely applied in China in recent years. Firstly, this chapter describes the development history of architectural fabric structures in China, and discusses the increasing role of such structures. Secondly, the range of architectural fabric structures is given, including small sculpture-like and functional fabric structures, commercial and business buildings, cultural and exhibition buildings, airport terminals and railway stations, stadiums, gymnasiums, multifunctional buildings with movable roofs, air-supported membrane structures, and Expo buildings. For each kind, the chapter provides a detailed introduction and some typical examples. The chapter then uses Shanghai World Expo Axis as an example to show details in computation, design according to Chinese code, and construction. The details include basic information, members and materials, analysis and computations, design checking, and construction aspects. Moreover, future trends in architectural fabric structures are introduced. Aspects discussed cover fabric material, supporting structures, applications of multifunctional buildings with movable roofs, air-supported membrane structures, as well as research, inspection and monitoring, repair, and replacement. To sum up, several conclusions are given. Architectural fabric structures have experienced explosive growth in China in the past 20years or so. The industrial chain has been developed, but in China, material is the weakest link, and the application of architectural fabric structures is more and more rational. There were also some failures of fabric structures in China caused mostly by typhoons and snow accumulation. As more research methods are developed and adopted from studies in this area, fabric structures will become more reliable in the future.