All you need to know about high quality tensile structure

Tensile structures are constructions made of, tension fabric material which are engineered to make canopy like structure mainly used as shades for car parking or at stadiums to coverthe audience in the stands. They are the result of architectural innovation of construction art. The construction of these structures is solely based on tension and there is no compression and bending. Tensile structure is free-form canopy design which is weatherproof, flame retardant and naturally strong. It is very flexible and easy to install. The USP of tensile structure is that it can be used for small purposes like car parking as well as covering of acres of area with the same ease. Tensile structure has found application in varied areas like car parks, restaurants, hotels and stadiums, etc.

• It uses tensile fabric which gives it aesthetic beauty and durability.
• These structures are also known as tensile membrane, shell structure or fabric structure.

Various types of tensile structure

Tensile structure and their construction can be of many types such as

• Tensile Outdoor Structures
• Tensile Clamp
• Tent Tensile Structures
• Stadium Tensile Structures
• Landscape Tensile Structures
• Shades Sails, Tensile Membrane Structures
• Tensile Sheds
• Tensile Shades Sails
• Cantilever Tensile Sheds
• Shades Sails Structures
• Shades Sails Sheds
• Modular Tensile Sheds

Design Process of Tensile structure

For different types of tensile Structures, the process of designing is completely different from conventional building techniques. For instance, there are two essential features that are different from conventional structure. The first one is a membrane structure which requires form-finding and generation of cutting pattern. The designing process of a membrane structure is a very complex process which consists of many steps resulting in an iterative process. This process includes, conceptually designing the form, physical modelling, modelling using computerized techniques, form-finding, and lastly the analysis, generation of pattern cutting. A tedious optimization process follows depending on the choice of boundary conditions which determines the structural shape.

Applications of Tensile structure

Due to the flexible structure and scalable construction of tensile structure, it finds extensive application. The popularity of tensile structure is growing with each passing day. The fabric that is used in the construction is PTFE-coated fibreglass and PVC-coated polyester. These materials are woven in such a manner that there is a different amount of strength in different directions. Due to these unique features, it finds application in the following areas.

• Car parking shades
• Beach shades
• Roof shades
• Food court canopies
• Garden canopies, etc.

Advantages of Tensile structure

The ease of development and installation has made tensile structure quite popular in Indian market. The advantages that have made this structure a sough-after construction design is:

• It disperses natural light with condensed heat load, thus proving to be a better alternative to polycarbonate structure.
• It transmits good amount of light at daytime, thus reduces the need of artificial lights.
• It absorbs solar energy, thereby reducing heat load.
• It requires lower maintenance as compared to glass structure.
• There is a minimum interruption on the installation site as most of construction is completed at the factory.
• The installation is fast and easy.

The author, aaronjersy is an architect and a freelance writer who writes articles about upcoming trends in tensile structure construction and designing.