Writing for architects and engineers concerned with designing and constructing membrane structures, and for students in these fields in courses or solo study, Seidel describes the current state in the construction of tensile surface structures. The book complements the computer-aided calculation process of form finding and structural design, he says. He begins with materials, considering such aspects as structural composition and manufacture, mechanical properties, criteria for the patterning, reusable surface joints, methods of transferring force at the edge, the geometry of the edging and effect on bearing behavior, and corner details. Turning to construction, he discusses aims and tasks of construction management, cranes and lifting devices, erection procedure, erection procedures for membrane structures, lifting and hanging structural elements, controlling forces in flexible structural elements, measuring membrane stresses, and other topics. The text is illustrated with drawing, diagrams, and many color photographs of construction and finished structures. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Discusses the fundamental influence of material manufacture and assembly in deciding the most suitable type of building or structure and its detailing in the design process. This book explains the fundamentals of material composition, manufacturing process, patterning and the behaviour of flexible structural systems.
Tensile surface structures are the visual expression of an intensive rethinking of the topic of building envelopes by designers. Advances in design methods, materials, construction elements and assembly and erection planning in the field of lightweight construction are enabling ever more exacting applications of tensile structures with envelope and structural functions, especially in roofing over large clear spans without internal support.
However, the particular mechanical characteristics of the materials used in the construction of textile structures demand consideration of the question of "buildability". This book provides answers by discussing the fundamental influence of material manufacture and assembly in deciding the most suitable type of building or structure and its detailing in the design process.
The fundamentals of material composition, manufacturing process, patterning and the behaviour of flexible structural systems are all explained here, as well as their use as structural and connection elements, and special attention is given to the erection of wide-span lightweight structures. The erection equipment is described, as well as the lifting and tensioning process and the construction methods used to erect the characteristic types of tensile structures, illustrated with a selection of example projects.