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by Gerry D'Anza
Tensile Structures Form Finding Techniques
Many systems are available today for who wants to investigate the large topic of Tensile Structure design,
I remember just fifteen years ago that form-finding tools where available only to big engineering firms,
mainly in house developed, and it was quite impossible for a young architect or engineer get a basic
knowledge of this technology.
Today's scenario has changed and its quite easy to get a software tool able to find a relaxed shape
that satisfies the main rule for tensile structures : negative Gaussian geometry at each point of the
surface to guarantee equilibrium under any applied load.
Form-finding modules
Linear
LinearFDM
FDMModule Non
Module NonLinear
LinearFDM
FDMModule
Module URS
URSModule
Module
Pres-stressed membrane
Pres-stressed membrane
ororcable net
cable net
Forten 4000 (c) Technology preview
Linear
LinearFDM
FDMModule Non
Module NonLinear
LinearFDM
FDMModule
Module URS
URSModule
Module
Pres-stressed membrane
Pres-stressed membrane
ororcable net
cable net
Supporting
SupportingStructures
Structures
Steel,concrete,wood FEM
FEMAnalysis
Analysis
Steel,concrete,wood
Linear
LinearFDM
FDMModule Non
Module NonLinear
LinearFDM
FDMModule
Module URS
URSModule
Module
Pres-stressed membrane
Pres-stressed membrane
ororcable net
cable net Patterning
Patterning
Supporting
SupportingStructures
Structures
Steel,concrete,wood FEM
FEMAnalysis
Analysis
Steel,concrete,wood Connection
Connection
Details
Connection
Details
Details
Force Density or FDM is a the most simple method and comes in two
flavours : Linear and Non Linear
F ijk
∑ Z= 0; ∑[ L k
z j − zi Pz i ]= 0 ;
k ij
Forten 4000 (c) Force Density module
With the non-linear FDM method we are able to set different properties :
k
k F ij
C =
ij k Force Density Linearisation
L ij
The method is well suited to find cable systems where specific requirements are needed
Forten 4000 (c) Force Density module
GMG Motors
Baku Group DT
Design & Engineering
Forten 4000 (c) Force Density module
GMG Motors
Baku Group DT
Design & Engineering
Forten 4000 (c) Force Density module
GMG Motors
Baku Group DT
Design & Engineering
Forten 4000 (c) Force Density module
GMG Motors
Baku Group DT
Design & Engineering
Forten 4000 (c) Force Density module
The Updated Reference Strategy (URS) for form finding of membrane structures has been developed by
Prof. Kai-Uwe Bletzinger of the TU München (Germany)
For a given topology of a membrane structure and given stress state in the structural elements
(pre-tension in the membrane and cables), the corresponding equilibrium shape has to be determined.
The URS represents a generalization of the well-known force density method.
Due to its continuum-mechanical basis, the method is applicable to both cable and membrane elements
without any restrictions:
E.g. an arbitrary stress state can be specified for the membrane, which can be isotropic in order to generate
real minimal surfaces or orthogonally anisotropic, which is very helpful for form finding of textile structures
with warp and weft direction.
It is even possible to consistently include pressure forces, which are acting always normal to the surface at
every state of the procedure,in the form finding process of pneumatic structures such as air-inflated
cushions.
Forte 4000 (c) URS module
Hypar
U-V
Coordinates
Blue=Warp
Red= Weft
Hypar
U-V
Coordinates
Blue=Warp
Red= Weft
Size: 35 x 56m
Height: 13m
Size individual 4 point sail: 12 x12m
Membrane surface area: 2600m²
The form must offer a mesh suitable for export into Finite-Element software:
-Mesh must be harmonious to get good convergence and realistic stress plots
-Shallow angles in corners must be avoided otherwise you get unrealistically high stresses, therefore mesh is made more dense in the
eyelet corners before export.
Forten 4000 (c) URS Module
The form must offer a mesh suitable for export into Finite-Element software:
-Mesh must be harmonious to get good convergence and realistic stress plots
-Shallow angles in corners must be avoided otherwise you get unrealistically high stresses, therefore mesh is made more dense in the
eyelet corners before export.
Forten 4000 (c) Technology preview
Forten 4000 (c) Technology preview
Port of Bari : Cover for waiting area. Design by Baku Group Dt Architects
Forten 4000 (c) Technology preview
Port of Bari : Cover for waiting are. Design by Baku Group Dt Architects
Forten 4000 (c) Technology preview
Port of Bari : Cover for waiting are. Design by Baku Group Dt Architects
Forten 4000 (c) Technology preview
Bridigine college
Shade to order
Kakkuri finland
Membrane & steel
g.danza,l.dibenedetto
Forten 4000 (c) Technology preview
Patterning a flower
Forten 4000 (c) Technology preview
Patterning a flower
Forten 4000 (c) Patterning Module
Thank You
Gerry D'Anza