Structure, Form, and Architecture: The Synergy

Lecture 18: Tensile Structures

DR. SHUBHAJIT SADHUKHAN

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING

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Introduction
• Structural arrangement of elements that carries only Tension and no Compression or
Bending is called Tensile Structure

• In Tensile Structure, load bearing capacity is achieved through tension stress in the
majority of the components

• Examples: boundary tensioned membranes, pneumatic structures and pre-stressed

cable nets and beams

Tension: ability of a material to

prevent structure against Pulling Load

Source: Structure in Architecture by G G Schierle, 2006

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Types of Tensile Structure
→ Stayed

→ Suspended

→ Anticlastic

→ Pneumatic

→ Trussed

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Tensile Structure: Stayed

McCormick Place
Illinois

Source: https://www.som.com/projects/mccormick_place_-
_phase_2__exposition_center_expansion_north_building

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Tensile Structure: Stayed

Renault Center Swindon

United Kingdom
Source: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/norman-foster-hails-conversion-
of-his-renault-building-into-kids-play-centre/8678338.article

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Tensile Structure: Stayed

The Millennium Dome

London
Source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Millen
nium_Dome

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Tensile Structure: Suspended

Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco, USA
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate_Bridge

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Tensile Structure: Suspended

Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco, USA
Source: http://www.metallicstructure.com/En/PhotoBlog/?ID=9

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Tensile Structure: Suspended

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Bristol
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton_Suspension_Bridge

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Tensile Structure: Anticlastic

Source: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Tensile_structures

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Tensile Structure: Anticlastic

Source: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Tensile_structures

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Tensile Structure: Anticlastic

Source: https://parametric3d.com/architecture-design-1-2/

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Tensile Structure: Pneumatic

Tokyo Dome
Tokyo
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/tokyo/spend-a-day-
exploring-tokyo-dome-city/ps57961248.cms

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Tensile Structure: Pneumatic

Pontiac Silverdome
Michigan
Source:
https://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-
lions/post/_/id/32227/barry-sanders-
world-cup-and-wrestlemania-the-
requiem-of-the-pontiac-silverdome

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Tensile Structure: Trussed

Oldenburg Stadium
Germany
Source: https://www.sbp.de/en/project/roof-marschweg-stadium-
oldenburg/

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Tensile Structure: Trussed

Algarve Stadion
Portugal
Source: https://www.footballticketnet.com/portuguese-super-
cup/sl-benfica-vs-sporting-lisbon

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Use of Tensile Structure
▪ Light roof over stadium

▪ Roof of Indoor Sports Arena

▪ Shade of Parking Areas

▪ Shade for large span without obstruction

▪ Suspension Bridges

▪ Shade for Swimming Pool

▪ Cantilever structure

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Further Reading
• Salvadori, M and Heller, R A (1963), Structure in Architecture, 3rd ed., Prentice Hall.

• Hjelmstad, Keith D. (2005), Fundamentals of Structural Mechanics, 2nd ed., Springer.

• Hulse, Ray and Cain, Jack. (2016), Structural Mechanics, Macmillan International Higher
Education

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Lecture 19: Load Bearing Structure

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Thank You

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