Abstract
AbstractBehaviour of prestressed textile membranes supported by peripheral non-rigid steel structures and used for various simple temporary and permanent canopies/shelters is described. The investigation relates to structures composed of membranes located between steel arches only. The approaches for global analysis of the structural system and influence of important parameters such as the membrane prestressing and rigidity of the supporting steelwork are discussed. Extensive parametric study concerning possibility of simplified separate analyses of the membranes and supporting steel structures is presented, giving limiting parameters for such approach. Finally, some recommendations for the analysis and realization of prestressed non-metallic membranes and respective steel supporting structures are provided.
Highlights
In the last decades the use of non-metallic membranes is widespread due to their enormous lightness and aesthetics required by architects, developers and investors
This paper investigates only the simplest form of the membrane structures called “barrel” (Fig. 1), to assess whether the simplified separate analysis of a membrane stretched between non-rigid steel arches
The correct analysis of textile membranes embedded into a steel structure requires geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis with imperfections (GMNIA), available with specialized software
Summary
In the last decades the use of non-metallic membranes is widespread due to their enormous lightness and aesthetics required by architects, developers and investors. Simple membrane structures are often designed by non-specialized consultancy offices which do not possess the specialized software In such situations the prestressed membrane is analyzed separately as isolated one with large deflections and isotropic material behaviour while the resulting reactions are introduced into a supporting steelwork. This study does not model the membranes with all the above mentioned nonlinearities and anisotropy but employs geometrically nonlinear analysis (GNA) with linear isotropic behaviour of a textile membrane, because its principal goal is investigation of the interaction with the supporting steelwork Such simplification of membrane behaviour is well approaching the Ferrari® Précontraint type of fabric, made of polyester scrim coated both sides with liquid PVC and PVDF topcoat. More sophisticated material behaviour of the fabric is used by Svoboda and Machacek (2014), concerning detailed study of the membranes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call