Rizal Technological University

Boni Ave., Mandaluyong City

College of Engineering and Industrial Technology
Department of Architecture

BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 5
T Y P E S O F
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S

SUMBITTED BY:

Mago, Mharciane Maxine P.

SUMITTED TO:

Arch’t. Joseph A. Rea, UAP

 Tensile & Membrane Structure
Tensile structure is the term usually
used to refer to the construction of
roofs using a membrane held in
place on steel cables. Their main
characteristics are the way in which
they work under stress tensile, their
ease of pre-fabrication, their ability to
cover large spans, and their
malleability. This structural system
calls for a small amount of material
thanks to the use of thin canvases,
which when stretched using steel
cable, create surfaces capable of
overcoming the forces imposed upon
them.

A tensile membrane structure is most often used as a roof, as they can economically and attractively
span large distances. Tensile membrane structures may also be used as complete buildings, with a few
common applications being sports facilities, warehousing and storage buildings, and exhibition venues.

Membrane materials
Common materials for doubly curved fabric
structures are PTFE-coated fiber
glass and PVC-coated polyester. These are
woven materials with different strengths in
different directions. The warp fibers (those
fibers which are originally straight
equivalent to the starting fibers on a loom)
can carry greater load than the weft or fill
fibers, which are woven between the warp
fibers.

Common materials for doubly curved fabric structures are PTFE-coated fiber glass and PVC-

coated polyester. These are woven materials with different strengths in different directions.
The warp fibers (those fibers which are originally straight equivalent to the starting fibers on a loom) can
carry greater load than the weft or fill fibers, which are woven between the warp fibers.
Cables
Cables can be of mild steel, high strength steel (drawn carbon steel), stainless
steel, polyester or aramid fibres. Structural cables are made of a series of small strands twisted or
bound together to form a much larger cable. Steel cables are either spiral strand, where circular rods
are twisted together and "glued" using a polymer, or locked coil strand, where individual interlocking
steel strands form the cable (often with a spiral strand core).

Advantages of using Tensile Structures

Examples and Details

Applications