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Unique Wide-Span Metal Roof Structures

From the 1980 Moscow Olympics to the 2014 Sochi Games
Pavel G. Yeremeyev, D. Tech. Sc, Prof. (Central Research Institute for Building Structures)
109428, Russia, Moscow, 2-nd Institutskaya, 6,
eremeevpg@rambler.ru
Abstract
A great number of unique wide-span structures, such as stadiums, sports centers, multipurpose
public buildings, have been built in Russia from 1980 until now. Recently, more than 30 new
stadiums and covered arenas have been or are being built for the 2014 Winter Olympics and the
2018 Football World Cup.
The article includes a review of the most unique buildings with spatial metal roof structures with
a span of up to 300 m. New forms, materials, design and construction methods emerged in the
last decades due to the onrush of technology. Unique wide-span structures have high criticality
rating and their failures can have severe economic and social consequences. Therefore, there is a
need to analyze the available experience in the design, erection and operation of wide-span
spatial structures in order to determine the main trends in the design and construction of such
buildings and define new requirements and recommendations. Experience in the design of such
buildings, calculations and providing scientific and technical support is summarized. It is
necessary to take into account additional requirements for nomenclature and volumes of
researches, installation specification and requirements for design, manufacturing and erection of
structures, rules of their acceptance and operation. In view of the above, there are additional
requirements for the scope and types of necessary surveys and design activities, for fabrication
and installation of structures and for acceptance and operation procedures that should be taken
into consideration.

Keywords: wide-span structures, metal structures, spatial roof structures, research, conceptual
design, fabrication, installation.

A great number of unique wide-span structures, such as stadiums, sports centers,

multipurpose public buildings, have been built in Russia from 1980 until now. Recently, more
than 30 new stadiums and covered arenas have been or are being built for the 2014 Winter
Olympics and the 2018 Football World Cup. Below is a brief overview of the most interesting
structures.
1. Metal membrane structures are one of the most efficient types of spatial roof
structures. Such structures consist of a shell made of thin metal sheets suspended from a
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supporting structure. The distinctive features of this system is the strength of a spatial thin shell
is used to the fullest possible extent and that a single material functions as both bearing structure
and building envelope. A membrane with a thickness of up to 5 mm can span more than 300 m
and have different shapes in plan view. The shape of a thin-sheet envelope can have zero
Gaussian curvature (cylinder, cone), positive Gaussian curvature (sphere, elliptic paraboloid) and
negative Gaussian curvature (tent, saddle, hyperbolic paraboloid). A membrane roof can also be
a combination of envelopes with the same or different geometries. Membrane structures are easy
to fabricate and install and have minimum overall height. Thin-sheet strips with a width of up to
12 and sufficient length to cover the span are prefabricated and delivered to a construction site in
coils. The operating principle of membrane system is most similar to stayed systems but the
former have better deformation properties as well as better reliability due to a spatial load
distribution.
The tensile loads created by a spanning structure are born by footing which is in
compression and bending. The footing works together with the membrane which ensures its
stability. Rational loading of the footing is one of the key tasks in the design of thin-sheet roofs.
The task is accomplished by proper selection and matching of the roof surface shape and
contour. Since membranes are lightweight and have low flexural rigidity, their resistance to
deformations need to be improved. Various means can be used to stabilize a roof: its own
weight, ballast or suspended equipment which create tensile stresses in the membrane to resist
wind suction loads and decrease the ratio of live load to dead load; adding reinforcing ribs with
sufficient flexural rigidity to the roof; pre-stressing the membrane by various means depending
on the roof shape.
A number of studies of membrane structures have been carried out, a calculation
technique has been developed, onsite observations have been conducted resulting in technical
solutions as well as design and installation guidelines. A number of structures with membrane
roofs, including those for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, have been erected and used with good
results [1, 2, 3, 4].
1.1. Covered multifunctional Olympic Stadium in Moscow (Fig. 1) with plan
dimensions of 224 by 183 m, an area of more than 30,000 m2, and permanent stands for 35,000
spectators [5]. The stadium can be divided into two parts by an acoustic partition. The oval
building is covered with a 5-mm membrane roof. The membrane is reinforced with a spoke-ring
system which was used for the membrane installation. During the normal operation of the
stadium, the system is used to suspend various equipment. The membrane footing is a monolithic
reinforced-concrete ring in a metal formwork with section dimensions of 5 by 1.75 m. The
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membrane is designed for a load of 10 kPa (1.45 psi) in the center and 3.5 kPa (0.51 psi) at the
edges.
1.2. Krylatskoye Velodrome (Moscow) with plan dimensions of 168 by 138 m and a
shape close to an ellipse. Its 4-mm membrane roof consists of two saddle-shaped thin-sheet parts
(Fig. 2) attached to arches with a span of 168 m. Inner arches do not have intermediate supports
and are combined into a spatial unit. Outer arches are supported by cantilevers of the stands in
the middle of the span. The arches are made of steel and have a box-shaped section with
dimensions of 3 by 2 m.
1.3. Universal Ismailovo Sports Palace (Moscow) consists of several sectors: the main
arena with dimensions of 66 by 72 m and two practice halls with dimensions of 36 by 36 m.
Each sector is covered with a 2-mm stainless steel membrane (Fig. 3). Membrane footing is a
hybrid precast and in-situ concrete structure with section dimensions of 0.5 by 6.0 m. The
membrane was welded out of prefabricated strips with a width from 9 to 12 m on the ground and
lifted by winches along the corner columns to the design position.
The critical structures of all Olympic facilities have been monitored for 35 years enabling
timely repairs and justified extension of their safe operation periods.
1.4. Covered Speed Skating Center (Moscow Region, 2006) has an oval shape with
dimensions of 200 by 110 m. The roof is made of 4-mm saddle-shaped membrane (Fig. 4). The
footing with a rectangular 1.2-by-2-m section is a steel trough filled with concrete. Longer sides
of the footing rest on two arches with a span of about 75 m; the other parts of the footing are
supported by hinged props spaced about 12 m apart.
1.5. Membrane roof of the Ice Sports Palace (Angarsk, 2010) has a cylindrical shape
with plan dimensions of 90 by 87 m (Fig. 5). Closed monolithic reinforced concrete footing
consist of two linear and two curved elements. The footing corners are reinforced with struts.
2. Some roofs use a combination of elements in tension and elements in compression and
bending [6, 7]. Such hybrid systems have shorter elements in compression and bending and
make better use of tension elements made of high-strength metal. The structure also has better
resistance against uneven loads. There are many types of such hybrid systems. Even the simplest
ones provide for a broad choice of designs, materials as well as fabrication and installation
techniques. Basic combinations are joined into complex spatial structures by various means.
2.1. Gostiny Dvor in Moscow [8] has a shape of an irregular quadrangle. In 1998, its
courtyard with sides measuring 56, 187, 84 and 164 m and an area of 1,500 m2 was covered with
a transparent glass roof (Fig. 6) whose bearing hybrid structures form a cylindrical surface and
consist of a curved upper chord made of H-beams which is in compression and bending, a lower
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chord made of steel strips which is in tension and two V-shaped posts between the chords with
hinge joints (Fig. 7).
2.3. A similar system was used in 2005 for Kazan Indoor Football Arena (Fig. 8) which
has an oval shape (178 by 90.7 m). The roof has a spatial system of rods in the center as its core.
Standard hybrid two-chord steel trusses connect to the core. The elements are connected by links
into a rigid disk.
2.4. Lokomotiv Football Stadium with an oval shape (205.7 by 157.3 m) capable of
holding 29,000 people was built in Moscow in 2001 (Fig. 9). All stands are protected by roofs
(with a projection of 50 m) suspended on four cable trusses (Fig. 10). Reinforced-concrete
pylons (with a height of about 50 m) were erected in the stadium corners. Pairs of guys (with a
diameter of 140 mm) are attached to the pylon tops. Slanting cables with a diameter of 50 mm
attached to the guys in pairs hold the roofs [9].
2.5. Covered Speed Skating Center ( Moscow, 2003) has a shape of circular segment
with a radius of 117 and a central angle of ~160° (Fig. 11). The roof is made of standardized
composite wood-and-metal trusses. A system of radial trusses (two 50.4-m spans) with a ring
beam in the center was suspended on 19 cables transferring the load to the foundation via a
central steel pylon (with a height of 50 m) and its two guy-wires.
2.6. Ice Sports Palace (Moscow, 2005). A cylindrical building with a diameter of 100 m
and a height of 50 m (Fig. 12). Suspended grid consists of an outer footing, inner ring and a
system of radial and annular flexurally rigid members with diagonal links.
3. A number of wide-span sports facilities have been built for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi
(Fig. 13).
3.1. Fisht Olympic Stadium with a capacity of 50,000 (Fig. 14) has an oval shape (285.0
by 240.0 m). The main elements of the roofs overhanging the stands are two main latticed arches
with a span of 285 m and a height of 70 m. Secondary semi-arches made of curvilinear flat
trusses with spans from 18.0 to 71.0 m are erected in perpendicular direction to the main arches
(approximately 28 m apart). The semi-arches rest on the reinforced-concrete frame of the stands
on the side opposite to the field. The main arches and semi-arches are linked with a system of
cross-trusses.
3.2. Iceberg Skating Palace in plan is a rectangle with rounded corners. Its roof (117.0
by 90.0 m) is a spatial structure in the form of radial tied arches (Fig. 15).
3.3. Bolshoy Ice Dome (Fig. 16) of an oval shape in plan (190 by 140 m) with a latticed
dome.
3.4. Adler Arena Skating Center (Fig. 17) and Shaiba Ice Arena (Fig. 18) with space
truss roofs.
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4. A number of stadiums with roofed stands have been designed and are being (have
been) build for the 2018 Football World Cup.
4.1. Football Stadium in Kazan with 45,000 seats is a circle (with a diameter of 250 m)
with a central rectangular cut. The roof shape is part of a cylinder (Fig. 19). Bearing metals
structures over the stands consist of footing and cantilever trusses. The footing is a spatial closed
three-chord truss (197.4 by 161.5 m) which is supported through hinge joints by eight
reinforced-concrete pylons at the stadium corners. The footing supports cantilever trusses with
projections from 33.9 to 38.8 m spaced 15.3 m apart. The cantilever trusses are attached to props
along the perimeter. Construction was completed in 2012 (Fig. 19).
4.2. Spartak Stadium in Moscow with 42.000 seats. The stadium in plan is a rectangle
with rounded corners (Fig. 20). Its plan dimensions are 219.7 by 179.1 m; height is 51.10 m.
Metal structures include four main trusses around the field. Longer trusses with a span of 217 m
(height up to 22.5 m and width up to 13.25 m) run along the football field. Shorter trusses with a
span of 180 m (height up to 19.5 m and width up to 13.25 m) run in perpendicular directions.
The trusses are supported in eight points by reinforced-concrete pylons at the stadium corners.
4.3. Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg with a capacity of 62.000 people seats has a
transformable central part and a movable field. The stadium in plan is a circle with a diameter of
295.7 m. Its maximum height is 56.6 m (Fig. 21). The metal structures of the fixed roof consist
of a framework which has a shape of a biconvex lens with a central aperture over the football
field. The structure includes radical and annular trusses and links. The roof is suspended on
bearing cables and guy-wires from eight slanted steel pylons with a height of about 100 m.
4.4. VTB Arena in Moscow with 33,000 seats has an oval shape in plan with maximum
dimensions of 300.0 by 187.0 m and a height of 66.0 m (Fig. 22). Its roof also covers an indoor
arena with 13,000 seats.
4.5. CSKA Moscow Stadium with 36,000 seats of a rectangular shape in plan. The
stands have roofs with a shape of a hyperbolic paraboloid (Fig. 23). Its plan dimensions are
215.0 by 179.2 m. Overall width of the roof is 47.8 m, with cantilever projections of 38.8 m. Its
bearing structures are cantilever trusses with guy-wires.
Experience in the design, construction and operation of wide-span spatial structures was
generalized to provide a number of recommendations.
A. Unique wide-span structures have high criticality rating and their failures can have
severe economic and social consequences. Therefore there are additional requirements for the
scope and types of necessary surveys and design activities, for fabrication and installation of
structures and for acceptance and operation procedures and these requirements should be taken
into consideration.
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B. Design should be based on sound design solutions with due consideration of the
structure’s purpose, architecture, fabrication and installation techniques and operating
conditions. Any proposed ideas require technical and economical validation.
C. Design of such structures involves problems not covered in regulatory documentation
which requires specialized knowledge and practical experience of the engineer. Creative
generation of ideas is an important feature of this work.
D. In order to improve the reliability of results, re-calculations using different software
packages are recommended. It should be kept in mind that there is a flip side to the use of the
computer in that it increases the risk of error. One needs a clear understanding of the structure
functioning based on the principles of structural mechanics.
E. Design should provide for emergencies and include measures to prevent progressive
collapse.
F. Ensuring the high reliability of unique wide-span structures requires R&D support
which usually includes the following:
- giving recommendations on snow and wind load determination on the results of a model
testing in a special wind tunnel. Design climatic loads should take into consideration the
operating life of the structure;
- recalculation for verification;
- in some cases, experiments with large-scale physical models to estimate the load-
bearing capacity and reliability of structures and verify the computational model and
computation technique;
- developing Fabrication and Installation Specifications with additional requirements not
covered in the existing regulations;
- technical monitoring during construction and first years of operation.

References
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2. Yeremeyev P., Kiselev D. Thin-Sheet Metal (Membrane) Suspended Roof Structures.
International Journal of SPASE STRUCTURES Vol.10. # 4, 1995.
3. Yeremeyev P. Development and analysis of technical solution variants for a number of unique
structures with thin-sheet suspended roofs. Proceedings of the IASS Symposium.
Stuttgart/Germany, vol. II. 1996.
4. Yeremeyev P. Spatial Thin-Sheet metal of roofs structures M. 2006. (in russian).
5. Yeremeyev P. Thin-Sheet metal shell of large-span roof of universal stadium in Moscow.
IASS-CSCE International Congress, Montreal, Canada, 1992.
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6. Yeremeyev P. Modern large-span steel structures unique building. M. 2009. (in russian).
7. Yeremeyev P.G. The manual on designing of wide-span roofs modern metal structures. M.
2011. (in russian).
8. Yeremeyev P., Kancheli N. Large-span transparent roof for “Gostiny Dvor” complex in
Moscow. Proceedings of the IASS International Congress, Moscow, Russia, vol. II. 1998.
9. Yeremeyev P., Kiselev D., Savelyev V. Steel Carrying Structure of the Roof over the
Lokomotiv Moscow Stadium Stands. Proceeding of the Fifth International Conference on Space
Structure, vol.2. 2002.
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