Roofs of prestressed concrete membranes

Abstract

Prestressed membrane roofs have been designed from the beginning of prestressed concrete. They are described in basic books written by pioneers of prestressed concrete. For illustration, four architecturally most successful roofs are reminded. The authors are convinced that the prestressed membrane roofs are still modern, structurally efficient and architecturally interesting. If they are assembled of precast members, they can be erected without scaffolding. Recently they have studied different membrane structures from point of view of their architectural and structural arrangement, process of erection and static and dynamic behavior. Deep studies were done for membranes of simple curvature situated above the whole or portion of the rectangle area and selfanchored membranes supported by arches or shells. Also selfanchored suspension membranes situated above the circular or elliptical plans, hypar membranes and membranes of a free form that are suspended on arches or suspension cables were analyzed.