STRUCTURAL MATERIALS RESEARCH CATALOGUE STUDIO 703

TENSILE STRUCTURES

ARCH 3501 - ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO 4

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY - FALL 2008
TENSILE STRUCTURES

Tensile structures were first seen in the earliest forms of

shelter, such as the tent. However it was Vladimir Shukhov who
pioneered the use of tensile structures in the late 19th & early
20th centuries by doing many shell tower and pavillions such
as the Elliptical Pavillion of the Panrussian Exposition in 1896.
These structures began an era of tensile creations done by
many well known architects and engineers such as Eero
Saarinen, Santiago Calatrava, Frei Otto, and many others.
TENSILE STRUCTURES:

LINEAR
3 DIMENSIONAL
SURFACE-STRESSED
MATERIALS
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
LINEAR STRUCTURES
SANTIAGO CALATRAVA

The Chords bridge in Jerusalem, Israel was done by Santiago

Calatrava in 2008.

It is a cable stayed bridge composed of 66 steel cables.

It has one angle, cantilevered tower supported by the cables.

The goal of the bridge was to add a unique defining aspect to

the jerusalem skyline.

These tensile structures often have a great beauty to them, but

can also be much more costly than a more simple and tradi-
tional solution.

On this particular project many of the cities tax payers were

skeptical on how much this project was costing them.

Although these structures are more expensive than a standard

concrete or compression bridge, there structural longevity and
stability offsets the price jump.

This bridge, although beautiful and streamlined, is extremely

simplistic in comparison to the other types of tensile construc-
tion. Linear structures typically have a central mast, just as the
chords bridge and many others,
3D STRUCTURES

A typical 3D tensile structure can be not only in tension, but in

compression as well.

When this occurs, as it has in the sculpture to the left, the inner
members are in compression while the outer members are in
tension, causing tensegrity.

Another example of a 3D tensile structure is the “bicycle wheel”

used as a structural roof.

There are steel members in tension on a lower and upper deck

forming a volume in between.

This unique feature is what makes these types of tensile build-

ings different from a linear structure.

Although these structures and buildings have a more complex

shell, it makes for a more interesting shape.

The inner ring of this structure is in tension while the outer ring
is in compression.
SURFACE-STRESSED STRUCTURES

The Olympic Stadium in Munich, Germany done by the

engineer Frei Otto for the 1972 Olympics is an example of a
surface stressed structure that uses acrylic glass stablized by
steel cables that are in tension.

This new form of structure has opend up many new

possibilities in the 20th and 21st centuries with its flexibility for
new shapes and forms that traditional hard surfaced materials
can not provide.

It also gives a lightness quality that hard surfaced coverings

can not provide, along with bringing in natural lighting to the
space below.

Another example of these membranes is the millenium dome.

This structure, although it does not have the hyperbaloid effect
that the Olympic park has, it has still has a stretched
membrane that has been formed into a dome.

These complex shapes take much planning and placement in

order to get the perfect balance of tension so that the weight is
distributed in the correct way to hold everything up.
OLYMPIAPARK
MUNICH, GERMANY

The Olympic Stadium in Munich, Gemany is the largest tent

like structure in the world. Its acrylic glass roof rolls accross the
park replicating the grace and beauty of the Swiss Alps.
However there is some controversy over what Frei Otto actually
used as inspiration. Frei Otto based many of his designs off the
things in nature that fascinated him. In this case, the pattern
and repetition of many of the different tents are said to be like
that of a spiderwed, rather than the slopes of the alps.
OLYMPIAPARK:

HISTORY

ARCHITECT

FACTS
OLYMPIAPARK HISTORY
EXPO ‘67

Although it is Frei Otto who is known for Olympiapark, it was

Gunter Behnisch of Behnisch and Partner that came to Frei
Otto for his opinion. Otto’s design was approved in 1968 and
the project was finished for the 1972 olympics. What sparked
Behnisch’s interest in Frie Otto was Otto’s and Rolf Gutbrod’s
unique design of the German Pavillion in 1967. In fact, the
Olympic Stadium is strongly based off of this design, only
much larger.
OLYMPIAPARK ARCHITECT
FREI OTTO

Frei Otto had a strong philosophy of architecture and nature

being one together. As Otto put it, “The desire to create a
deliberate design stands in contradiciton to the search for a
shape which, while as yet undiscovered, is nevertheless
subject ot the laws of naure.” Otto throughout his studied
various minimal surfaces such as cobwebs, soap bubbles,
and other tensioned membranes. He used these characteristics
found in nature to inspire him to create interesting structures,
such as the Olympic Stadium.
OLYMPIAPARK FACTS

69,000 seating capacity 436 km of cable strands at 11.7mm thick 85,000m2 translucent acrylic glass Cable stayed masts 76 meters in height
MATERIALS

The design of the structure was intended to catch the viewers

eye. The acrylic glass plates used for the roofing material of
the tents is an opaque material that allows in light whiile giving
protection from natural elements.

The steel cable netting underneath the acrylic glass supports

the roof and gives extra weight in order to properly tension the
structure to make it air tight.

The 76 meter masts are constructed of steel drums that grow

in width towards the center and shrink in diameter towards the
bottom connection and the top of the mast. Atop the mast sits
a steel pulley system which allows the supporting cables to sit
and be properly tensioned.

There are concrete supports where the tensioned cables run

into the ground.
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

The construction progress for this project was extremely

meticulous and orderly. After the masts were constructed, the
cable netting system were layed and joined together on-site.
They were then hoisted up and tensioned. The cable
manufacturer fitted the clamps on the cables in the factory so
it was easily assembled on-site. The anchoring system was
placed in an underground diaphragm foundation which had to
be precast before the cables were tensioned to their correct
shape. After the cable netting was set in place, the acrylic glass
was pre-cut and then placed in a grid and tensioned along with
the cables. Otto designed a system of seals that make the
stucture watertight and barely visible from beneath.
STUDY MODEL ONE

The Olympic Stadium in Munich, Gemany, done by the

engineer Frei Otto for the 1972 Olympics, is an example of a
surface stressed structure. This structure uses acrylic glass
stablized by steel cables that are in tension. The idea was to
symbolize the alps with its white transparent shield. This new
form of structure has opened up many new possibilities in the
20th and 21st centuries with its flexibility for newshapes and
forms that traditional hard-surfaced materials cannot provide.
STUDY MODEL ONE:

MATERIALS

HOW IT WORKS

WHAT WE CAN DO NEXT TIME

STUDY MODEL ONE
MATERIALS

For our first study model, our main goal was to capture the
general shape that the acrylic glass forms at the Olympic
Stadium. In order to do this we need materials that were
flexible and easily manipulatible in order to keep adjusting them
to see how these intricate forms are created. We used
flexible metal rods for the support of fhe roof and a larger, but
also flexible rod for the mast. To study the shapes of roof, we
Metal Rod Metal Wire Mesh Fabric used a transparent mesh fabric that was anchored to the metal
supports and manipulate until the desired shape was formed.
We used thin metal wire to twist for our connections.
STUDY MODEL ONE
HOW IT WORKED

During the construction of the Olympic stadium, the masts,

steel supports, and cable netting were first constructed and
tensioned to the appropriate forms in order to add the pre-cut
acrylic glass to produce the finished product. For this first study
model we simplified the structural support to a few basic beams
and columns that could support our fabric. We then manipu-
lated the understructure with the fabric connected in order to
study what shapes needed to be made in order to create the
hyperbaloid shape used for the stadium.
STUDY MODEL ONE
WHAT CAN WE DO NEXT TIME?

After studying and manipulating these into different shape

along with studying diagrams and documentation of the stadi-
um, we pieced together a better and more realistic view of how
the structure was constructed and what materials needed to
be used in order to better replicate this intricate design. For the
following study model we dove into more noble materials closer
to the actual materials used in order to get a better perspective
of proportion, weight distribution, and functionality.
STUDY MODEL TWO

The Olympic Stadium in Munich, Gemany, done by the en-

gineer Frei Otto for the 1972 Olympics, is an example of a
surface stressed structure. This structure uses acrylic glass
stablized by steel cables that are in tension. The idea was to
symbolize the alps with its white transparent shield. This new
form of structure has opened up many new possibilities in the
20th and 21st centuries with its flexibility for newshapes and
forms that traditional hard-surfaced materials cannot provide.
STUDY MODEL TWO:

MATERIALS

HOW IT WORKS

WHAT WE CAN DO NEXT TIME

STUDY MODEL TWO
MATERIALS

For our second study model, out goals was to construct it on

a much larger scale than the first in order to show more detail
and nobility of the structural system of this building. For the
masts we used a 1” diameter dowel that reached 2’-6” in height
giving this model a 1:100 scale (actual mast size is
approximately 250 ft). for the steel framing of the structure, we
Steel Cable Wooden Dowel Steel Rod used 1/8” steel rods. We used brass picture hangers to simu-
late the lose connections or cables running from the structure
to the ground. For our cables we used a thin metal twine that
was approximately 1/32” in diameter. A wooden base was used
in order to drill the masts into the base for support.
STUDY MODEL TWO
HOW IT WORKED

For the construction of our model, we wanted to replicated as

closely as possible the construction process of the actual
structure. For the olympic stadium, the masts and the steel
structural supports went up first and were tensioned. For our
model, we soldered the structural members together to give
in plenty of support, then attached the cabling system to the
structure, and hoisted it up on the masts and tensioned it until
it formed into the appropriate shape. The front structural beam
was clamped onto the structural steel making it one cohesive
piece. To attach the cables to the base we screwed-in
eye-hooks into the wood to support the cables thus supporting
the rods.
STUDY MODEL TWO
WHAT CAN WE DO NEXT TIME?

For this study model we primarily focused on the understructure

of the tent to see how the connections were made and at what
strength must the steel be to carry different loads. For the next
model, we began to take into account the acrylic roof with the
under cabling system. A more detailed approach was taken to
further develope our knowledge of the structure and the nature
of its system.
FINAL MODEL
FINAL MODEL:

MATERIALS

HOW IT WORKS

WHAT WE CAN DO NEXT TIME

FINAL MODEL
MATERIALS

For our final model we wanted to explore some of the more

detailed aspects of this structural system. We kept the same
scale as the previsous model, but changed a few of the
materials. For our mast we used a hollow steel tube that
remained at a 1 inch thick diameter in order to replicated the
true materials of the actual structure. In the previous study
model the cables used were too strong in proportion to the
Steel Mast Steel Cable weight of the structure. For this model we used a thinner 22
Steel Front Support Nails Steel Rod
gage cable wire in order to add more tension to the structure.
For the front steel support we used a solid steel rod for extra
tension support. For the roofing material we used a thin
synthetic acrylic plexy to simulate the actual acrylic glass. For
the under-cabling system, nails and a thinner 28 gage wire
were used.
FINAL MODEL
HOW IT WORKED

The beginning process for this final model was similar to that of
the previous study model. We connected the steel members,
only this time by welding to obtain a stronger bond. We
attached these to the steel front tension rod with similar
fasteneres to that of the previous study model. Before hoising
this structure up, we formed the scored and drilled acrylic plexy
to the desired shape using heat. After hoisting the structure up
and tensioned properly, the plexy was placed to fit and then
the model was re-tensioned until everything was cohesive. to
simulate the plexy fastening to the understructure we used
nails puncturing through the glass connecting to the under wir-
ing system.
FINAL MODEL
WHAT CAN WE DO NEXT TIME?

Although our final model was successful in portraying the

information we wanted to display, there is still much more detail
in joints, connections, and overall tensioners that we would
have liked to explore more in another model. Understadning the
complexity of this system is an on-going process in which must
be studied intensively from many different angles in order to
fully understand how the system functions as a cohesive unit.