Handcrafted Tensile Membrane Structure With Low-Tech Form Finding and Construction

Proceedings of the IASS-SLTE 2014 Symposium
Shells, Membranes and Spatial Structures: Footprints

15 to 19 September 2014, Brasilia, Brazil
Reyolando M.L.R.F. BRASIL and Ruy M.O. PAULETTI (eds.)
Handcrafted tensile membrane structure with low-tech form

finding and construction
Joao Victor CORREIA DE MELO*, Jos Luiz RIPPERa, Patrick STOFFELa,
Laboratrio de Investigao em Livre Desenho, Departamento de Artes e Design
Pontifcia Universidade Catlica do Rio de Janeiro
Rua Marqus de So Vicente, 225, Gvea, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. jvictor@puc-rio.br
a
Laboratrio de Investigao em Livre Desenho, Departamento de Artes e Design

Pontifcia Universidade Catlica do Rio de Janeiro
Abstract
Tensile membrane structures are used by mankind since the first days of its existence, on the tents of the nomad
hunters and gatherers settlements. Those tents were built without the need of big planning and material process.
Nowadays, our technic/scientific society made a lot of improvements on this kind of structures, nevertheless the
design and construction complexity became so higher that turned this objects very expensive and specialized.
Trying to get in a midpoint between these two ages of membrane structures, the research at the Laboratory for
Investigation in Living Design LILD, attempts to unite the logical academic modern knowledge and the
spontaneous popular ancient knowledge, in order to spread and popularize handcrafted reputable lightweight
structures
In this paper, the construction of an experimental tensile membrane structure is described. Such object was built
in the city of Formoso - in So Paulo state, southeast Brazil - in an open terrain exposed to sun, rain, and winds.
It aims to be a weather shelter covering.
Following the precepts of LILD`s research, this membrane structures was first studied in scale models. These
models were used, at first, for form finding, and, after that, for measurements and constructive method studies.
The object is constituted by two parts. The first one is the main structure. Based on tensegrity technology, with
some adaptations, it is a prestressed freestanding structure composed by four arched bamboo beams, three
bamboo poles - which shape up spatially the object -, and synthetic cables for prestressing the whole system.
The second one is the composite membrane. It has two parts. The first one is the cable net, composed by a
synthetic cable net prestressed over the main structure tied at its beam edges, and sewed at its cable perimeter.
This net describes the basic geometry of the final object and, more than this, it receives and distributes
prestressing and external loads through the whole system.
The other part is the membrane weatherproof roofing. It has basic units which are pre-fabricated composite strips
made of jute fabric and raw earth. Their lengths vary. These strips have superposed zones where they are bound
up and then rested over the cable net. Variations in these overlaps allow the flat strips to discrete the cable net
geometry. At last, the strips are sewed over the main structure cable perimeter, which attach it to the whole
system. After the drying of the raw earth the membrane is painted with castor polyurethane resin for waterproof.
This research is still an initial step in the search for the handcrafted tensioned membrane, which could be made
by layman. The object is still under construction. However, technical matters which came up during its
assemblage, up to this point, have already given hints to the understanding and improvement of this technology.
Keywords: Tensile Membrane, Bamboo, Lightweight Structure, Raw Earth, Low-tech form finding
1. Introduction
The tent, as it is being building since thousands and thousands of years, is an effective and simple covering
system, being adaptable trough the most different physical/geographical environments. It allows constant
Copyright 2014 by the authors.
Published by the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) with permission.

assemblage and disassemblage, practical and efficient transport, that fits in most diverse situations, from
traditional nomad cultures, to modern life needs.
Traditional tents were generated in a very similar way as the spontaneous natural process, that means, consuming
the fewer potential energy existent in the environment in which it is constructed. Nowadays, our
technical/scientifical society, in order to concretize megastructures, brought a lot of specialization to this kind of
covering. Nevertheless, these big and heavy load constructions, turned the model to be copied by medium and
low load structures, ignoring the simple solutions from the ancient cultures, bringing unnecessary technical
sophistication, and higher costs, to smaller tents. (BECHTOLD, 2008).
Trying to get in a midpoint between these two ages of membrane constructions, the research at the Laboratory
for Investigation in Living Design LILD, attempts to unite the logical academic modern knowledge and the
spontaneous popular ancient knowledge, in order to spread and popularize handcrafted reputable lightweight
structures (CORREIA DE MELO, RIPPER, & YAMAKI, 2012).
In this paper, the construction of an experimental tensile membrane structure is described. Such object was built
in the city of Formoso - So Paulo state, southeast Brazil - in an open terrain exposed to sun, rain, and winds. It
aims to be a weather shelter covering.
2. Methodology
The Laboratory for Investigation in Living Design (LILD) from PUC-Rios Department of Arts and Design
together with LASE (Structural Systems Laboratory UFMG) and Bambutec (a partner company which works
with design, assemblage, and renting of bamboo structures for events and fairs) is developing appropriated
techniques for the use of raw, or nearly raw, natural materials, in lightweight, shallow foundations and low
energy constructions. These objects results from the combination of the so called game units (MOREIRA &
RIPPER, 2014) - made of bamboo culms and strips, natural fibers, and raw earth - looking for the development
of shapes with high strength due to its form/material conjugation. In resume systems which are feasibles in an
economic standpoint, and permits assemblages, disassemblages, and reassemblages, with the possibility of a
total reuse of its elements. These systems should be realized in convivial practices, where the users of the objects
are involved in their constructions, which guarantee the correct use, maintenance, and discard of it [1, 2, 3].
Other important point refers to the obtaining of the structural forms that should be adequate to the mechanical
specificities of the materials that are used. The forms of these structures are not those produced by mans
imagination. To describe the geometry of the objects, shapes derived from those unveiled from the nature, and
those obtained by devices which were putted in interaction with some natural phenomena - like, the gravity, the
hydrostatic pressure, the liquid surface tension, among others [4, 5, 6, 7]. Some other existent reputable forms,
recognized by their high resistance grades because of its geometries, are used, such as regular polyhedrons (and
their geodesic derivation), spheres, pressure curves, etc..
This methodology is a result of the labs working process, which is subjected to the technical development and
the constant learning from the natural formation, and, as a process, is in a continuous transformation. It is being
demonstrating its effectiveness not only in LILDs research, but too, in LASEs research, as showed by Moreira,
Ripper & Caliman [8].
2. Self-standing behaviour
At LILD, the works about self-standing bamboo structures originate from equipment intended to people with
motor disabilities [Fig.1]. These devices are lightweight, bamboo vehicles, powered by human strength,
handcrafted and custom-made, achieved and in continuous improvement with techniques specially focused on
the structural conditions of bamboo.
The bamboo walkers help children that have balance issues caused by cerebral paralysis. They have been made
in various types and with different techniques. The joints of the devices showed are based on the ones that
Santos Dumont used as his balloon basket, and that was the joint solution, combined with the tensegrity, that
later made possible the bamboo bicycles produced in Denmark. Those joints have tensioned cables along the
inside of the culm. Another type of vehicle displayed is the amphibious sliders, which allow people in
wheelchairs and other motor disabled people to move in places where the wheel does not work.
Copyright 2014 by the author(s).


The observation of those devices functioning affirms, not only the general potential of the employed techniques,
but also improve the condition of structural self-standing resulted from the, at times violent, movements of the
vehicles [9].
Figure 1 Walkers and Amphibian vehicles.

The acquired knowledge with those experiments, performed in the real social environment, opens the way to
new formulations on structural typology that are favorable to self-standing. This has been achieved following the
same structural self-standing conditions of the previously mentioned devices, that refers to shallow foundations,
that is, the ones just rested on the surface of the terrain.
These structures work as structural cores, and is being applied on membrane covering infrastructures and support
elements for structural shells specially made of fibered raw earth (a natural composite) [10] without the need
of the usual foundations, or big and heavy anchorage blocks.
3. Preceding self-standing textile covering objects

Objects with a small size, in general, brings more information and understanding to the researcher than others
which have bigger sizes, or are very bigger compared with the man. It happens because related to the small ones
the researcher is a giant and dominates it, can manipulate it with their own body. In an opposite side the bigger
ones dominates the researcher because their body are too small compared to the object. Some structures which
were developed with this logic, starting from small to understand and dominate the bigger one, is being
concretized and are research precedents of the structure threated in this paper.
3.1. Self-standing Tents made of Bamboo Culms
As showed earlier, the research on bamboo structure has its begining in vehicules toa id people with moviment
disabilities. Those objects utilized the same joint as the Brazilian inventor Alberto Santos Dumont used in its
airplanes and Balloons. The joint works very well; nevertheless it needs an assembler with a high level
technique.
Trying to make the connections between the bamboo bars simpler, the research turns to the tensegrity
technology. Developed by Kenneth Snelson and theorized by R. B. Fuller, this structural typology divides in its
elements the tension field of the object: the rigid bars are responsible to bear the discontinuous compression
field; and the cable net will bears the continuous tensile field. These conditions are very suitable for the
mechanical properties of the integral bamboo culm, and are very effective in the construction of functional,
lightweight, self-standing objects, as can be demonstrated by a tent suspended by a tensegrity geodesic dome
assembled as a research device to the thesis Non-visual sensorial aesthetics: the haptic beauty [11] [fig.2].


Figure 2 Tensegrity geodesic tent

Other application of this structural principle is the Tensegrity Tent an under graduation project presented by the
designer Mario Seixas (PUC-Rio 2011). Intended to be a device for the Rio de Janeiros public markets, it shows
some tensegrity structure benefits: versatility, energetic efficiency, lightweight and mechanical simplicity .[fig.3]
Recent developments on tensegrity structures in being carried out by the labs research partner Bambutec, a
company established by LILDs former researchers which works renting equipment for fairs and exhibitions. An
example of Bambutecs developments is a tent with a tensegrity structure made of bamboo culms and synthetic
cables which was assembled as a commercial exhibition booth at the Organic Product Fair in So Paulo. The
conjugation of the rigid bars and the cable net was especially studied to permit an assemblage with a maximum
of twelve hours and only four people working on it. In this way, the assemblage plans should be continuously
optimized and the self-standing tensegrity structures is being demonstrating a great value for this kind of
application. A structural analysis of the object was made by LASE [8], which shows an intense partnership and
research exchange between LILD, LASE and Bambutec, looking for the development of the complete cycle of
an object: concept, analysis and cultural application.
Figure 3 - Self-tensioned tents up: Tensegrity Tent (Mario Seixas, PUC-Rio, 2001) down: Bambutecs Tent
(Bambutec, Rio de Janeiro, 2010)

The Sombrinha is another object that demonstrates these precepts, but different from the other ones, it has a
clear separation between the main structure and the covering. Circa 2003, the labs research was looking for a
covering for the bamboo geodesic dome, which, in that moment was understood, not only as an emblematic
structure, but too as a structural core, capable of bearing external loads. A millenary object was studied in order
to solve this problem: the Chinese Umbrella made of bamboo, rice paper which adapted to the dome, could
cover the inner space. The chinese umbrella are very noticeable because of its delicacy, structural simplicity and
functionality. At first, to demonstrate the easy way it could be assembled over a dome, a regular umbrella was
attached to a dome model, and after some studies on it, the main structure and the membrane paneling could be
find and two objects in real size were constructed one with five parts and one with eight parts. These objects, in
in use state, were made of bamboo culms, cotton fabric, and an iron central joint.
The Sombrinhas were installed in the garden of PUC-Rios campus and was placed in the air by means of
tension cables anchored in the trees. This way the objects could be tested in their usability conditions and
aerodynamics behavior. Left in their place for a few months, the Sombrinhas resisted to strong winds,
especially because of their anchor points which permitted strong vertical movements without affecting the
structure [12, 13].
Figure 4 Sombrinhas made of bamboo and cotton fabric, a look at the millenary chinese umbrella
The idea to construct the structure shown in this paper, was originated from the necessity to cover an old shelter
constructed in the labs advanced experimental field located in the small town of Formoso, in So Paulo state,
southeast Brazil. The first experiment tried in order to cover this space was done several years ago. In the
occasion a tensegrity structure was assembled and covered with a plastic canvas [fig.5].
Figure 3 First covering of the shelter. Tensegrity Structure.


The structure was removed because of environment actions. The wind effect tear down de canvas, nevertheless
the tensegrity main structure was kept intact, which brought a lot of data to the planning and execution of a new
covering proposed by the researcher Patrick Stoffel.
4. Handcrafted tensile membrane structure with low-tech form finding and construction
Following the precepts of the lab`s research, this membrane structures was first studied in scale models [5, 6, 7].
These models were used, at first, for form finding and structure development, and, after that, for measurements
and constructive method studies.
The object is constituted by two parts. The first one is the main structure. It is a prestressed freestanding structure
composed by arched bamboo beams, bamboo poles - which shape up spatially the object -, and synthetic cables
for tying and prestressing the whole system.
Figure 4 - Miniature showing the infrastructure and miniature with the membrane
The structural principle of this main structure is very similar to the tensegrity structures. Its basic structural
elements are two: compression loaded elements and tensile loaded elements. The joints level of freedom is the
main conceptual difference between the tensegritys and the structure proposed here. In the tensegritys, the
contact among the bars is avoided, in order to guarantee only compression loads in the bar, and tensile loads in
the cables. In a different way, the proposed structure has some tied bar joints, nevertheless, in general, the
bamboo beams are still working under compression and the cable net still works under tensile loads.
The beams are arranged in two directions, longitudinal and transverse to the object and can be separated into
primary, the first case, and secondary, the second case. In order to take advantage of the bamboo culm natural
flexure, pre-arched beams were chosen, in a similar way as the indian bow. It would be impossible to reach the
necessary arching to the system using only a large diameter culm; hence, it was chosen to make beams with
bamboo culm stripes of the species bambusa tuldoide available locally with a diameter between 3 to 4 cm,
already tied-up and attached to the curve.
In order to obtain the curve projected to the arches a symmetric one the process employed was the bamboo
compensation due to its conic form, that is, the bamboos were organized so to always have a bamboo in each
direction, the basis of a culm is on the tip of the other one.
Natural imperfections to the linearity of the culms when displayed in bundles are attenuated by the whole.
Another interesting factor is that by composing the bundle, in case of any bamboo is deteriorated as by insects,
for example, this is compensated by the others and so it continues to contribute geometrically to the performance
of the element it works with.


Figure 5 Beams bundles preparation
The main beam which is in a longitudinal position related to the object was encapsulated with a composite
made of castor oil resin and natural fibers. This composite, besides of general strength improvement, was applied
because of the direct contact between the arch and the membrane which brings a proper environment for insects
and fungus, which could attack the bamboos if they were open. The secondary beams received bandages with the
same composite, but only as reinforcement in specific points where there is interaction with other in the system,
as the membrane and masts.
The cable net is composed of polypropylene cables with 7 cm of diameter. Those cables are ties-up and the
extremities of the beams, creating a perimeter that afterwards is tensioned. Secondary cables are also tied-up and
tensioned perpendicular to the secondary beams as to create a net of vertical tension between them and the main
beam.
Figure 6 - Main cable net assemblage


The vertical volume and the necessary space which will give tension to the whole system are given by some
masts made of bamboo pieces from the species bambusa vulgaris with twelve centimeters in diameter. These
elements, are also called tension elements, are placed between the main and the secondary beams, fixing the
main geometry.
Figure 7 - Infrastructure.
Over the infrastructure, covering the system, natural composite strips are placed. This composite is made of
natural jute fabric and raw earth. The length of this strips varies and the overlap of them permits the
discretization of the intended geometry, in a similar way as IL used to obtain the cutting pattern for tension and
pneumatic structure the so-called comb method [14]. When the composite is dry, the membrane is painted
with a castor oil resin, which gives waterproof to the covering.
Figura 8 Composite Membrane


5. Conclusions
It is known that this research is still an initial step in the search for the handcrafted tensioned membrane which
could be made by layman. The object is still under construction. However, technical matters which came up
during its assemblage, up to this point, have already given hints to the understanding and improvement of this
technology.
One of the findings is that the covering strips can be lighter, which could improve the structure efficiency and
appliance on bigger objects. Another important conclusion is that the strips direction also influences the
structural quality of the membrane. Therefore, a new arrangement of strips is needed, so it could improve the
load distribution, as well as rain water paths, on the surface and through the main structure.
Looking for future optimizations of the object, it is proposed a restudy of the obtained shape, and the cable net
geometry. For that, it is intended to use, as a base theory, the soap films minimal surfaces. Some preliminary
experiments is being realized, indicating promising paths towards the reduction of materials, weight, labour and
membrane tensions.
Figure 9 Preliminar soap film model
References
[1] ILLICH, I., A Convivencialidade, Lisboa: Publies Europa-Amrica, (1976).
[2] CAMPOS, D. M. e MELO, J. V., Square-based Bamboo Dome Based on Geodesics, em IC-NOCMAT-2011
Book of Abstracts, Changsha, China, (2011).
[3] CORREIA DE MELO, J. V., RIPPER, J. L. M. e YAMAKI, R. T., Formfinding Process for Bamboo
Structures, World Bamboo Congress, Antwerp, (2012).
[4] RIPPER, J. L. M. e MOREIRA, L. E., Mtodos de Ensino de Design de Produtos e sua Aplicao s
Estruturas da Engenharia Civil, em Conngresso Brasileiro de Ensino de Engenharia, Braslia, (2004).
[5] MOREIRA, L. E. e RIPPER, J. L. M., Tpicos para uma cincia do objeto utilitrio, em Tenth International
Conference on Non-Conventional Materials and Technologies - NOCMAT-2008, Cali, (2008).

[6] CORREIA DE MELO, J. V., Modelos em linguagem mecnica e modelos em linguagem eletrnica: as
interaes na metodologia do LILD, Rio de Janeiro: Dissertao de Mestrado - Pontificia Universidade Catolica
do Rio de Janeiro, (2011).
[7] YAMAKI, R. T., O uso da miniatura no desenvolvimento e passagem de formas tcnicas: subjetividade e
materialidade, Rio de janeiro: dissertao de mestrado (orientador Jos Luiz Mendes Ripper) PUC-Rio, 2012.
[8] MOREIRA, L. E., RIPPER, J. L. M. e CALIMAN, F., Estruturas Autotensionadas Com Bambus E Cabos
Aplicadas A Coberturas Areas, Revista Gesto Universitria ed.305, p. 19, 18 Maro (2010).
[9] RIPPER, J. L. M., CORREIA DE MELO, J. V. e RIPPER, L., Estruturas Autoportantes de Bambu para
Arquitetura Textil, em Tensantiago, Santiago, (2012).
[10] LEME, F. B. P., Construo com fibrosolo: um estudo de caso sobre o resgate da tcnica de taipa, e seus
efeitos no ambiente de clima tropical mido com estao seca e chuvas de vero, Rio de Janeiro: Tese de
Doutorado -Pontifcia Universidade Catlica do Rio de Janeiro, (2003).
[11] LEITE, C. T., Esttica Sencorial No Visual: Percepo do Belo Hptico, Rio de Janeiro: Dissertao de
Mestrado - Pontifcia Universidade Catlica do Rio de Janeiro, (2003).
[12] RIPPER, J. L. M. e MOREIRA, L. E., Sombrinhas de Bambu - Domnio Construtivo, em NOCMAT 2006,
Salvador, (2006).
[13] MOREIRA, L. E. e RIPPER, J. L. M., Coberturas em Sombrinha, em X EBRAMEM - X Encontro
Brasileiro em Madeiras e Estruturas de Madeira, So Carlos, (2006).
[14] OTTO F., et al, IL 15 - Lufthallenhandbuch - Air Hall Handbook, Stuttgart: ILEK, (1982).
[15] CORREIA DE MELO, J. V., RIPPER, J. L. M. e MOREIRA L. E., Development of Bamboo Structures
Based on Minimal Surfaces and Natural Formations, em IASS Symposium 2013 - Beyond Limits of Man,
Wroclaw, (2013).


Handcrafted Tensile Membrane Structure With Low-Tech Form Finding and Construction

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Handcrafted Tensile Membrane Structure With Low-Tech Form Finding and Construction

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Proceedings of the IASS-SLTE 2014 Symposium

Shells, Membranes and Spatial Structures: Footprints