Subject – BMCT-V

Topic- Tensile Structure

Bachelor of Architecture
(2021-2022)

Submitted by
BISCUITWALA
KHUSHI

Batch – I, Roll no.-08

Guided by
Ar. Vishwanath K.R.
 CABLE-NET:
ICE SKATING RINK (OLYMPIC PARK MUNICH) - 1983

Mast and cable supported membranes

• Arch type membrane with linear Arch-external support.
• To enable the open ice-surface in the Olympic Park to be used all round the year,
independently of the weather, a light roofing, naturally without supports, was
required
• A steel-trussed arch of three chords.
• With a span of 100m and a height of roughly 19m at its apex,
• the arch is capable of transmitting any thrusts to two large concrete abutments.
• Two sets of cables hang in opposing curves from the arch, stabilizing it by their
anchorage and forming a net.
• These symmetrical nets of cable have a grid of 75 x 75 cm and support a wooden
lattice, upon which is attached a translucent plastic sheeting.
• At the roof's edges the cable nets are bordered by garland-shaped cables which
pass over adjustable angled supports of steel being anchored fast.
• The construction and form of the “hanging from the
arch”
• Correspond to that of the roof edge.
• A series of elliptically strung openings below the
latticed arch . These are filled by "glass eyes" equipped
with ventilators.
 • The continuous "facades" between 3 to 5 m tall
between the edge of the roof and the ground in the
region of the angled supports incline from the eaves
to the interior at an angle corresponding to that of
these supports.
• the first ever in itself , horizontally barred glass
"façade" which is able to participate in the formal
changes allowed by the anchoring cables.

ELEVATIONS
STRUCTURAL DETAILS
CABLE JOINERY DETAILS
GUIDED BY:
AR.VISHWANATH SHAH
CASESTUDY-
HOWARH BRIDGE,KOLKATA

LOCATION
KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED
1943
ESTIMATED INVESTMENT -
RS.25Million.
THE HOWRAH BRIDGE IS
LOCATED BETWEEN THE TWIN
CITIES OF HOWRAH AND
KOLKATA IN WEST BENGAL,
INDIA.
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE:

MATERIAL
THE HOWRAH BRIDGE DOES NOT HAVE NUTS AND BOLTS, BUT WAS FORMED BY
RIVETING THE WHOLE STRUCTURE. IT REQUIRED 26,500 TONS OF STEEL, OUT OF WHICH
23,000 TONS OF HIGH-TENSILE ALLOY STEEL, KNOWN AS TISCROM, WERE SUPPLIED BY
TATA STEEL.
THE MAIN TOWER WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH SINGLE MONOLITH CAISSONS OF
DIMENSIONS 55.31 X 24.8 M WITH 21 SHAFTS, EACH 6.25 M2. THE FABRICATION WAS DONE
BY BRAITHWAITE, BURN & JESSOP CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AT FOUR DIFFERENT
SHOPS IN KOLKATA.THE TWO ANCHORAGE CAISSONS WERE EACH 16.4 M BY 8.2 M, WITH
TWO WELLS 4.9 M SQUARE. THE CAISSONS WERE SO DESIGNED THAT THE WORKING
CHAMBERS WITHIN THE SHAFTS COULD BE TEMPORARILY ENCLOSED BY STEEL
DIAPHRAGMS TO ALLOW WORK UNDER COMPRESSED AIR IF REQUIRED. THE CAISSON
AT KOLKATA SIDE WAS SET AT 31.41 M AND THAT AT HOWRAH SIDE AT 26.53 M BELOW
GROUND LEVEL.
COST
THE ENTIRE PROJECT COST 25 MILLION (£2,463,887). THE PROJECT WAS A PIONEER IN
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION, PARTICULARLY IN INDIA, BUT THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT
HAVE A FORMAL OPENING OF THE BRIDGE DUE TO FEARS OF ATTACKS BY JAPANESE
PLANES FIGHTING THE ALLIED POWERS. JAPAN HAD ATTACKED THE UNITED STATES AT
PEARL HARBOUR ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. THE FIRST VEHICLE TO USE THE BRIDGE WAS A
SOLITARY TRAM.

DESIGN
THE DESIGN OF THE SECOND HOOGHLY BRIDGE DIFFERS SLIGHTLY FROM OTHER
BRIDGES, WHICH ARE OF LIVE LOAD COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION. THE DIFFERENCE IS IN
THE DEAD LOAD DESIGN CONCEPT ADOPTED FOR THIS BRIDGE AND CONCRETING OF
THE SIDE SPANS DONE WITH SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE INTERMEDIATE TRESTLE. THE
DECK IS DESIGNED WITH A GRID STRUCTURE OF GIRDERS. ONE SET OF GIRDERS ARE AT
THE END AND ANOTHER SET IN THE MIDDLE, WHICH ARE BRACED BY GIRDERS SPACED
ON AN AVERAGE AT 4.2 METRES (14 FT) CENTRE TO CENTRE.
STRUCTURAL DETAILS OF HOWRAH BRIDGE:

• THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT WAS TO MAKE THE CENTRAL SUSPENDED SPAN AS HOG
• BACKED.
• THERE WAS NO STANDARD CODE AVAILABLE FOR THE DESIGN OF BRIDGES.
• HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL WAS SELECTED FOR REDUCING THE WEIGHT OF STEEL WORK.
WITH THE ADOPTION OF A CANTILEVER BRIDGE, UNHINDERED NAVIGATION
PROVISION WAS ATTAINED.
STRUCTURAL FEATURES:
• CENTRAL SPAN 1500 FT BETWEEN CENTRES OF MAIN TOWERS.
• ANCHOR ARM 325FT EACH
• CANTILEVER ARM 468FT EACH.
• SUSPENDED SPAN 564FT.
• MAIN TOWERS ARE 280FT HIGH ABOVE THE MONOLITHS AND 76 FT APART AT THE TOP.
• BRIDGE DECK WIDTH 71 FT WITH TWO FOOTPATHS OF 15 FT EITHER SIDE.
• ALL MEMBERS OF THE SUPER STRUCTURE COMPRISE BUILT UP RIVETED SECTIONS
WITH A COMBINATION OF HIGH TENSILE AND MILD STEEL.
• BETWEEN TOWERS BRIDGE DECK HANGS FROM PANEL POINTS IN THE LOWER
CHORD OF THE MAIN TRUSSES WITH A SERIES OF HUNGERS (39 PAIRS)
• ROAD WAY BEYOND THE TOWER IS SUPPORTED ON GROUND LEAVING ANCHOR ARM
FREE FROM DECK LOADS.
• BRIDGE DECK COMPRISES 71 FT CARRIAGE WAY AND 15 FT FOOTWAY PROJECTING
EITHER SIDE OF THE TRUSSES AND BRACED BY A LONGITUDINAL FASCIA GIRDER.
MORE ABOUT THE BRIDGE
• THE DECK SYSTEM CONSISTS OF CROSS GIRDERS HUNG BETWEEN PAIRS OF
HUNGERS WITH PINNED CONNECTION.
• SIX ROWS OF LONGITUDINAL STRINGER GIRDERS SPAN BETWEEN CROSS GIRDER.
• FLOOR JOISTS SUPPORTED TRANSVERSELY ON TOP OF STRINGERS.
• THEY SUPPORT A CONTINUOUS PRESSED STEEL TROUGHING SYSTEM.
• OVER WHICH DECK CONCRETE IS LAID OUT
DETAILS OF SUPERSTRUCTURE:

• THE HOWRAH BRIDGE IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF A BALANCED CANTILEVER BRIDGE.

THE CENTRAL SPAN OF THE BRIDGE IS 457 M ALONG WITH A SUSPENDED SPAN OF 171
M, AND CANTILEVER ARMS OF 142 M.

• THE LENGTH OF THE ANCHOR SPANS IS 99 M. THE TRUSS FORMATION FOR THE
CANTILEVER ARM AND ANCHORAGE ARM IS A K-TYPE, AND THAT FOR THE
SUSPENDED SPAN IS AN. ADOPTION OF A K-TYPE TRUSS HELPED IN THE REDUCTION
OF THE SLENDERNESS EFFECT OF THE LARGE VERTICAL LOADS.
PIER FOUNDATION
• THE ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE MAXIMUM LOAD THAT MAY COME ON THE
FOUNDATION FROM THE SUPERSTRUCTURE IS 30,000 TONS DOWNWARD
COMPRESSION AT THE MAIN PIER LOCATIONS AND 13,500 TONS UPWARD TENSION
AT THE ANCHORAGE POINTS. THE TWO PIERS AND TWO ANCHORAGES AT EACH
END WILL TAKE HALF OF THE ABOVE LOAD EACH.
ANALYSIS

TENSION

COMPRESSION

• THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE LOAD ON

THE TENSILE MEMBERS AS TO SUTAIN
THE STRUICTURE.
• THE DIAGRAM SHOWING THE HOW
THE TENSION AND COMPRESSION IS
CAUSED AT THE SAME MOMENT DUE
TO THE CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT OF
THE VEHICLES AND PEOPLE
EXAMPLE SHOWING THE APPLICATION OF TENSION
 ANALYSIS K truss

TENSION

COMPRESSION

N truss

• THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE LOAD ON

THE TENSILE MEMBERS SUCH AS K
AND N TRUSSES
• AS THE BRIDGE IS DEVIDED INTO 3
PARTS I.E. ANCHOR CANTILEVER AND
SUSPENDED SPAN.
ANALYSIS

TENSION

COMPRESSION
DECK GRILLAGE SYSTEM EXPANSION JOINT
THANK YOU....
 Subject – BMCT-V

Topic- Tensile Structure

Bachelor of Architecture
(2021-2022)

Submitted by
Jadav Saloni. R.
Batch – I, Roll no.-19

Guided by
Ar. Vishwanath K.R.
Introduction:
What IsTensile Structure?

Tension roofs or canopies are those in which every part of the structure
is loaded only in tension, with no requirement to resist compression or bending
forces.

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.
Case Study: United Nations Porte Cochere/Refurbishment, Other
Structures, New York, United States.

• Architects: FTL Design Engineering Studio

• Area: 9000 m²

• Year: 2010

• Manufacturers: Ronstan, Structurflex, PTFE,

Sheerfill

•Design Team: Nicholas Gold Smith, Ashish

Soni, Matthew Hilyard, Eric Smith, Joe
Schedlbauer, Amedeo Perlas

• Project Architects: HLW International,

Mic hael Tegnell, Mic hael Barrett

• Client:United Nations

• City:New York

• Country:United States
Architectural Design Criteria :

Located on the north lawn of the United

Nations c ampus, in New York City.

The structure sits adjacent to the UN’s new

temporary General Assembly building,
designed by HLW International.

The design serves as an entrance pavilion and

security screen for the general assembly
delegates.

The structure is envisioned as a relocatable

building which is intended to be moved to
another part of the c ampus at the c ompletion
of the renovation.

Inspiration from the surrounding landscape the

canopy is nested within the campus
landscape utilizing the contours of site as a
visual buffer.

Helical arches undulate and twist along the

length of the roadway gently peeling away
from the main building.
TYPE OF TENSILE STRUCTURE :
United Nations Porte Cochere Is Having Three-dimensional Tensile Structure.

What Is Three-dimensional Tensile Structures?

Three-dimensional tensile structures, is a compilation of elements that are primarily in

tension, with the compression being transferred to a central mast and down into the ground.

PLAN AND ELEVATION OF PORTE COCHERE, UN.

 VIEW AND SECTION OF PORTE COCHERE, UN.

SHAPE OF TENSILE STRUCTURE :

Shape of United Nations Porte Cochere Is Parallel Arch or Barrel Vault Structure.

These symmetrical curved parallel arch designs form an incredibly functional tensioned membrane
canopy that can span long distances such as a sports arena or smaller areas such as an entryway.

Depending on the spans, a barrel vault system can be a very cost-effective way to incorporate tensile
membrane on a project due to the repetitive nature of the design and efficiencies of materials.

Stayed Structure.
 PLAN SHOWING MINIMAL ANCHORAGE POINTS

The Porte Cochere may be relocated to another location on the UN campus or to any other site of
the UN’s choosing. With this as a starting point, the design developed to have minimal anchorage
points and to be modular in nature, using prefabricated steel trusses allowing for quick installation
whic h minimizes the impa ct of construction crews on site.
TYPE FABRIC OF STRUCTURE :

United Nations Porte Cochere Is Arch Support Structure.

Curved compression members are used as the main

supporting elements and cross arches are used for
lateral stability.

In a plane arch, large differences between the

thrust lines and the main geometry will produce
large bending moments that in turn produce large
changes in shape and high stresses in the arch.
The buckling length of the arch chord can also be
reduced by discretely or continuously supporting the
chord with tension elements or systems comprised of
c ables or membranes.
The high-tech textile membrane’s
function is two fold; it provides support
as a working tensile element equally
distributing structural loads and defuses
sunlight to naturally illuminate the space
below.
TYPE OF FABRIC OF STRUCTURE :

The structure uses two fabrics, a Teflon coated glass fabric as the main fabric and a silicone coated
glass fabric for greater translucency in the arches.

Functionally the canopy provides shelter for the motorcades as they load and unload delegates,
requiring ventilation for the idling cars inside. The open facades and linear vents that run the
entire length of the trusses allow fresh air to flow freely throughout the enclosure.
ROOF PLAN OF PORTE COCHERE, UN.
JOINERY DETAILS OF United Nations Porte Cochere :

PLAN OF JOINERY BETWEEN

FABRIC AND TENSION MEMBER

SKETCH OF JOINERY BETWEEN

FABRIC AND TENSION MEMBER

TRUSS ASSEMBLY
3-D TENSILE STRUCTURE
JOINERY DETAILS OF United Nations Porte Cochere :

SKETCH OF JOINERY BETWEEN

FABRIC AND TENSION MEMBER
JOINERY DETAILS OF United Nations Porte Cochere :

CABLE AND FABRIC CLAMPING CABLE PASSING THROUGH

FABRIC

CENTENARY CONNECTION AT CABLE PASSING THROUGH

SIDE FABRIC
JOINERY DETAILS OF United Nations Porte Cochere :

DIAGRAM OF OPRABLE
CURTAINS
STRUCTURAL PLACEMENTS OF INTERMEDIATE MEMBERS :
VIEWS OF PORTE COCHERE, UN.
 BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE
B.ARCH-III SEM-V
(2021-22)

SUBJECT: BMCT
CASESTUDY OF
MUNICH OLYMPIC STADIUM, GERMANY

SUBMITTED BY:

Jagtap Priyanka-20(Batch-1)

GUIDED BY:
Ar. Vishwanath KR
 MUNICH OLYMPIC STADIUM, GERMANY
INTRODUCTION

The Munich Olympic stadium is located in Munich, Germany, which is designed and built to host the
Olympic Games in Munich 1972. The architects in charge, Frei Otto and Gunther Behnisch both won the
design competition for the 1972 Olympic Games by proposing an undulating. continuous translucent
roof covering almost 80000 square metres of the landscape.

Designing a structure emulating the motto of the games: "The Happy Games" was their aim. Otto and
Behnisch created a structure mimicking the elevation of the Swiss Alps with a continuous translucent
roof which is suspended looking like the clouds covering all over the spaces between the main stadium,
pools and gym.
The stadium consist of four separate sub-areas (Olympic Games. Olympic Village. Press Room Olympic
City and the Olympic Park), Telecommunications tower and a stadium.
Architect : Frei Otto and Gunther Behnisch
Location : Munich, Germany
Years of Construction : 1968 - 1972
Collaborators : Otl Aicher
Client : Olympia-Baugesellschaft mbh
Stadium type : Public
Type of enclosure : Fully enclosed structure
Climatic zone : Temperate - cold winters and
mild summer
Volume : 427,300 m3
Swimming Pool volume : 222,000 m3
Total Roof Area : 74,800 m2
Capacity : 69,250 visitors,57,450 seats and
11,800 standing places, 100
places for disabled Persons
Dimensions : 260 m length axis and 250 m
diagonal axis
Field : 105 x 68 m
Internal area : Automatic irrigation system and
field heating, 400 m round track
with 8 tracks, long jump and
triple jump complex, high jump,
pole vault, discus, hammer and
javelin throw, shotput.
Lighting system : 1875 LUX
Cable Net & Membrane Structure
For long-span tensile membrane roofing applications typically found in
stadiums or large spaces, 3D cable net or cable grid structures are an
efficient solution for lightweight tensile architecture
 SURFACE CONSTRUCTION
CANOPY TENSILE STRUCTURE (ROOF)

• The roof of the Olympic Stadium in Munich,

which covers
and unifies the stadium, tracks and
pools.
• Suspended cloud-like structure that appears
to be floating over the site branching in
between the natatorium, gymnasium, and the
main stadium.

• The continuous tensile surface that bridges all of the main

buildings of the Olympic Games is subject to a hierarchical
structural system that creates a series of volumes across
the site.
SURFACE CONSTRUCTION BENEFITS
1.Flexible Design Aesthetics
Virtually unlimited designs of distinctive elegant forms can be realized
because of the unique flexible characteristics of architectural
membrane. Also, fewer support columns create more functional,
aesthetically pleasing spaces.

2. Outstanding Translucency
In daylight, the membrane's translucency offers soft diffused naturally
lit spaces reducing interior lighting costs. At night, the artificial
lighting creates an ambient exterior luminescence.

3. Shortened Construction Schedules

Incorporating the most modern construction techniques, large
fabricated membrane panels can be installed quickly to shorten
installation schedules. Likewise, fabric removal can be accomplished
easily.

4.Cost Benefits
Lightweight structures can be a more cost effective solution than
traditional building materials offering building owners reduced costs.
Materials, such as photo-catalytic membranes, can help prevent
temperature rise as well as reduce maintenance costs due to their
self-cleaning properties.

5.Long Span structures

Lightweight membrane is a cost-effective solution that requires less
structural steel to support the roof, enabling long spans of column-
free space.

6. Earthquake Resistant
Lightweight tensile membrane structures bear less building load than
traditional roofing materials and the membrane's elasticity offers
further earthquake resistance.
SKELETAL CONSTRUCTION
STEEL MASTS
The masts support the main cables maintained in tension by providing the necessary hanging roof
surfaces support. The masts are responsible structural elements transmit loads to the strong hand.
and do so in an inclined manner. The junction between the various cables that make up the structural mesh
is materialized by a knot of steel casting with a system using bolted anchors and tensioned. Earth anchor
foundations were needed to support the masts.
TENSILE STRUCTURE
DESIGN PROCESS Design of supporting framework:
• fabric
• arches
• Masts
• Anchorages
• cables
• weldments

Develop a practical geometric shape:

• Form-finding
• Prestress
• Perform centerline analysis

Determine the structural loading:

• Wind
• Snow
• Rain
• Special loads(point loads. e.g. lighting)

Design of components: Steel

• Check that beam is satisfactory using steel design
formulae.
Compute the reactions for the prestress, dead and live
loads cases,including combined load cases.

Generation of fabric patterns:

• Prepare patterning models and determine the

location and design of the seams.
 DESIGN AND DEVELOPEMENT
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

Construction of Installation of Installation of the PVC coated

the pre-manufactured saddle type net and polyester
concrete pile and steel masts plexiglass fabric was attached
seating Individually to each
MODELLING PROCESS grid cell

Masts were erected and Fabric was sewn to the Main coble was
drilled into the base main cable and supporting attached
with cables(fahing wire) was to the base and
screws as cable joints added to the edges of the secondary cables tied to
Because of the precision in the calculations of the structural system and the
fabric the masts and the base
membrane, these elements were manufactured off-site construction. The
high precision allowed easy assembly for one the most innovative and
complex structural systems that have been worked only with the premise
of stress.

Tertiary cables were

tied from the fabric to the
base
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

GRAVITATIONAL LOAD

LATERAL LOAD
MATERIALS

CABLES EDGE STRAPS TENDONS KNOTS AND CAST ACRYLIC MASTS STEEL
LACES CLOSED PARALLEL CORDS STEEL CLAMPS (PLEXIGLAS) TUBES
COVER GLASS

The enclosure of the structure consists

of a sheet of PVC-coated polyester,
2.9 x 29 m and 4 mm thick. concrete piling provide gravity load
reactions to tension structure.
JOINTS
JOINTS
LOAD DISTRIBUTIONS
The tension of the net come in both direc-
tions. The net were pull using cable and
connect to the ground . Foundations and
masts tension foundations were needed
to anchor the main cables down to earth
(compression force). Main and edges
cables The main cables, composed of five
strands formed from between 37 and 109
wires each, had to be held at high tension
to control deformation of the roof under
snow and wind loads(tensile force).
MUNICH OLYMPIC STADIUM TENSILE ROOF
 Subject – BMCT-V

Topic- Tensile Structure

Bachelor of Architecture
(2021-2022)

Submitted by
MAHARAJWALA
TWINKLE

Batch – I, Roll no.-32

Guided by
Ar. Vishwanath K.R.
MILLENIUM DOME,
GREENWICH
 INTRODUCTION

Vision of the project

Built to celebrate the arrival of new millennium in 2000

•Architect-Richard Rogers
•Structural Engineer-Buro Happold

Period of construction-1996-2000
Project cost-758 million pounds
Building Category-Exhibition and assembly
 LAYOUT

Diameter-320 meters
Central height-48 m
Enclosed area-80,000 sqm (20 acres)
Capacity-40,000 ppl
 ELEMENTS USED :

• Simply Suspended Cables

• Pre Tensioned Cable beams

• Pre Tensioned Cable net

TENSIONED STRAIGHT CABLES – ADVANTAGES :

• The elimination of one set of cables brings with it

the removal of cross clamps and anchorages

• Whether the load is acting downwards or upwards, the cable is

tensioned in the same direction, which can be a great advantage if
this tension is taken by a funicular arch or ring beam

• With just one set of cable, connections between the fabric

cladding and cable can be greatly simplified which results in
easier roof installation
 LOAD TRANSFER

UPPER
HANGER

CABLE RING

CIRCUMFERENTIAL
CACLE LOWER TIE
DOWN
CATENARY CABLE STRINGERS
 DETAILING OF MASTS

•Pyramidal base to suit space planning.

•Inclination (17 deg) provided on the basis of equilibrium conditions.
•Rubber pot bearing with a single locating joint to allow rotation.
 CLADDING MATERIAL

NEEDED A TRANSLUCENT FABRIC ROOF

WITH INSULATION :

▪To achieve a light spectrum as close to daylight

▪To avoid condensation of air within the building

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coated glass fiber

•Flame resistant
•Unaffected by UV light
•Water proof and dirt resistant

DOUBLE LAYERED FABRIC ROOFING

PROVIDED :

•To provide a layer of air as insulation

•To avoid risks
 DETAILS OF CABLES

•The stiffening in the cables is provided by highly pretensioned cables

(Each radial cable is subjected to 400 kn-2/3 of the tension capacity)

•Needed because of the long span of the radial cable-150m

•Tapering segments provided due to the reduced stiffness and excessive

deflection under rain and snow loads
•Slope increases with the span of fabric panels.
 DETAILS OF NODES

• Circumferential cables on the fabric roof

can lead to water accumulation.

• Rigid members introduced to keep

cables Off the roof.
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS OF MAST ERECTION
 • Assemble concentric rings of cables on the ground
and Install the individual radial cables between the
rings at ground level

• Use temporary extension cables attached to the

permanent hangers, the rings were pulled up
Using three separate cable jacks of each of the
12 masts.

• The separate infill radial cables between

Arrangement of lifting equipment in the the circumferential rings were than
masthead
installed

• Finally the cable net was post

tensioned.
 CONSTRUCTION
PROCESS OF CLADDING
 SHRI GIJUBHAI CHAGANBHAI
PATEL INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE

BUILDING MATERIAL AND

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

SUBMITED BY:-
baldaniya sagar n. [05]
BATCH - s01

TOPIC:-
tensile stucture

SUBMITED TO:-
AR. VISHWANATH
DENVER UNION STATION
INFORMATION
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Stucture: Long span tensile structure
Function / usaage: Central transportation hub
Material: Steel and PTEE fabric canopy
Project Timeline: 2010-2014 (rebuilt)
Location: Denver Colorado U.S.A

DESCRIPTION
 The primary structural system consists of 11 steel 'arch trusses' spanning
nearly 55 meters from a single large-diameter pin connection atop 5.5 meter
tall arched column supports.
 Each truss is supported about 6 meter above the ground by a series of steel
'kick stands,' which support vertical loads and horizontal thrust.
 Each 'kick stand' is rigidly connected to the foundation with heavy anchor bolts.
 The arch-trusses and cantilevered trusses support a tensioned ptfe fabric.
DENVER UNION STATION

Roof details:
 The structural system resist large uplifting wind forces because of void in
tensile mass fabric ,and foundation is design to take care of possible uplifting
 Opening the canopy towards sky also provides view of the denver historic
station
 Fiber membranes with a high degree of strength, together with layers of
waterproof coatings, giving protection against ultraviolet rays, fungus, fire, and
allowing greater or less translucency and reflectivity.
DENVER UNION STATION

STRUCTURE SPECIFICATION
Length: 159 meters
Breadth: 55 meters
Area: 8,745 sq.m
Height: 21 meter at the head–
end platform and 6.7
meter at the center
Weight: 720 tons
DENVER UNION STATION

PHOTOS
DENVER UNION STATION

REFRENCES
SOM | Denver Union Station – Structural Engineering
Denver Union Station // Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) - Architizer Journal
Denver Union Station / SOM | ArchDaily
Denver union station , case study by A JAY KUSHWAHA_ PILLAI HOC COA - issuu
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT- TENSILE STRUCTURE

• LOCATION :COLORADO,UNITED STATES

• ARCHITECT :FENTRESS BRADBURN
ARCHITECTS

• PROJECT AREA :33,531 ACRES

• BUILDING TYPE :AIRPORT
• PROJECT SCOPE :AIRPORT TERMINAL
BUILDING
• SIZE :189,000SQFT (17,558.SQ.M)
• PROJECT COMPLETED IN 1995.

RUSHALI GURNANI-16
BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY -V
 INTRODUCTION :
• THE MASSIVE 1200X240 FOOT FACILITY FEATURES STRIKING “MOUNTAIN RANGE CANOPY” THAT
UTILIZES BIRDAIR’S INNOVATIVE STEEL CABLE SYSTEMS AND DURABLE PTFE TEFLON-COATED
FABRIC MEMBRANE.

• PUNCTUATING THIS “RIDGE AND VALLEY” STRUCTURE IS A 900 FOOT ATRIUM.

• THE MEMBRANE IS STRETCHED BETWEEN 34 MASTS (105 TO 125 FEET IN HEIGHT) LINED UP 60
FEET ON-CENTER AND PLACED IN TWO ROWS 150 FEET APART.

• THE MASTS ARE ANCHORED TO THE FRAMING OF ROOF SURFACES ALONG THE EAST AND WEST
SIDES OF THE TERMINAL.

BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY -V

 MATERIALS:

• TEFLON COATED FIBER GLASS MEMBRANE (PTFE): PTFE IS SUITABLE FOR

SEASONAL AND DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURE DUE TO ITS WEATHER RESISTANCE, HIGH
STRENGTH, FLEXIBILITY, CHEMICAL RESISTANCE AND LONG LIFE SPAN
• ITS UNIQUE SELF CLEANING BENEFITS CAN BREAK DOWN DIRT AND POLLUTANT THROUGH A
CHEMICAL REACTION WITH THE SUN’S UV RAY.

• STAINLESS STEEL: STAINLESS STEEL HAS HIGH HEAT RESISTANCEAND IS ABLE TO

PREVENT CORROSION, THEREFORE PROVIDING THE STRUCTURE LONGER LIFE SPAN.

• STEEL CABLE 7x7: STEEL CABLE CARRY HIGH FLEXIBILITY AND CORROSION RESISTANT. IT
IS GREAT FOR TENSIONING AND HAS HIGH DURABILITY. IT HAS LONG LIFE SPAN AS WELL AS
ABRASION RESISTANCE.

BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY -V

 FORCES AND LOAD DISTRIBUTION:

BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY -V

 STRUCTURE ELEMENTS:

BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY -V

 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS:
• DOUBLE CABLE STRUCTURE:
- THE TENSILE FABRIC ROOF IS STRETCHED AND CURVED IN TWO DIRECTIONS.

- IN ORDER TO COMBAT FLUTTER OF THE ROOF DUE TO THE DYNAMIC EFFECT OF THE
WIND, DOUBLE CABLE SYSTEM IS INTEGRATED.

- THE RIDGE CABLE RESISTS DOWNWARD

FORCES (SNOW LOAD AND DEAD LOAD)
AND DRAPPED BETWEEN THE MASTS WHILE
THE ARCH SHAPED VALLEY CABLES RESIST
UPWARD AND OUTWARD LOAD (WIND
LOAD).

- BOTH TYPE OF CABLE ARE ANCHORED WITH

VERTICAL TIE-DOWNS AND ANCHOR
CABLES JUST OUTSIDE THE CLERESTORY
WWINDOW.

- THE CABLES ENABLE THE ROOF TO SUSTAIN

UP TO 20 TIMES THE ROOF WEIGHT.

BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY -V

 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS:
• MAST TOP SECTION:

- THE ROOF MEMBER IS STRETCHED BETWEEN 34 MASTS (105-125 FEET IN HEIGHT)

LINED UP 60 FEET ON CENTER AND PLACED IN TWO ROWS, 150 FEET APART.

- THE REINFORCED FIBREGLASS MAST TOP CONSISTS OF

GLASS SKYLIGHTS, MECHANICAL EQUIPMENTAND
LIGHTINING SYSTEMS.

- THE WERE ALL ASSEMBLED ON THE TRUSS RING.

- AT THE POINT OUTSIDE THE CELESTORY WINDOW WHERE

THE RIDGE, VALLEY, DIAGONAL, CATENARY AND TIE-DOWN
CABLES MEET, IT IS SIGNED AS “OCTOPUS” WHERE THE
MEMBERS WERE STRESSED.

BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY -V

 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS:
• MAST TOP SECTION:

- THE ROOF MEMBER IS STRETCHED BETWEEN 34 MASTS (105-125 FEET IN HEIGHT)

LINED UP 60 FEET ON CENTER AND PLACED IN TWO ROWS, 150 FEET APART.

- THE REINFORCED FIBREGLASS MAST TOP CONSISTS OF

GLASS SKYLIGHTS, MECHANICAL EQUIPMENTAND
LIGHTINING SYSTEMS.

- THE WERE ALL ASSEMBLED ON THE TRUSS RING.

- AT THE POINT OUTSIDE THE CELESTORY WINDOW WHERE

THE RIDGE, VALLEY, DIAGONAL, CATENARY AND TIE-DOWN
CABLES MEET, IT IS SIGNED AS “OCTOPUS” WHERE THE
MEMBERS WERE STRESSED.

BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY -V

 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS:
• TRUSS SUPPORTED WALLS:

- THE CELESTORY WINDOWS ALONG THE EAST AND WEST OF THE WALLS OF THE FREAT HALL ARE
FRAMED BY CABLE-SUPPORTED STRUCTURES.

- IT CONSISTS OF TWO-WAY CABLE-REINFORCED STRUT SYSTEM.

BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY -V

 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS:
• ANCHOR BASED STRUCTURE:

- THE GUY CABLE ABSORB HORIZONTAL COMPONENT OF THRUST IN A SUSPENSION

OR CABLE- STAYED STRUCTURE AND TRANSFER THE FORCE TO THE GROUND
FOUNDATION.

BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY -V

DENVER AIRPORT:
Renault Distribution Centre
Swindon ,United Kingdom.

Name : Khatri Akshaykumar D.

Roll No : 26 Sem:v Year : III
Subject : Bmct-V Topic : Tensile Structure
Guided By : Ar. Viswanath K. R.
Gcpia , Vnsgu , Surat
Area: 25,000m² • The Renault Centre has been described as the
practices most playful structure of it’s time.
Height: 10 m
• The Centre was commissioned as the French car
manufacturers “RENAULT” main UK
Capacity: 250
distribution facility.

Client: Renault UK Ltd. • In addition to warehousing, it includes a

showroom, training school, workshops, offices
and a staff restaurant.
Structural Engineer: Ove Arup &
Partners

Quantity Surveyor: Davis Belfield

& Everest

M+E Engineer: Foster Associates

Landscape Architect: Technical

Landscapes Ltd.
Norman Foster's Renault Distribution Centre

• high-tech architecture series is Norman Foster’s

Renault Distribution Centre in Swindon, one of
the most expressive and distinctive examples of
the style.
• Completed in 1982 by Foster Associates, which
became Foster + Partners, the Renault
Distribution Centre was the main UK
distribution facility for French car manufacturer
Renault.
• With its expressed structure it is one of the
clearest demonstrations of high-tech
architecture, a style that emerged in the 1960s
and celebrates a building's structure.
• It was the second industrial building that Foster
built in the city of Swindon, following the
Reliance Controls created while he was part
of Team 4.
• Unlike other huge, often anonymous distribution
sheds, the 25,000-square-metre building has an
extremely distinctive profile created by 59
bright-yellow masts and arched steel-beams that
support the roof.
DESIGN
• The architecture expressed not only the corporate
ownership with the yellow of Renault used on all the
structural elements, but also promoted a modern
statement on industrial relations by using the same
roof over the warehouse and office elements, making
no distinction between white- and blue-collar
workers.
• Renault commissioned the building in 1980 after
outgrowing their premises in Reading. Planning
permission was granted in June 1981, construction
commenced July 1981 and practical completion was
achieved in December 1982.
• The building is designed in square modules.
A further three modules were built to contain a training
school, workshops, offices and a staff restaurant.
A large, open showroom with cars suspended from the
roof, which was often used for events, occupied two
additional bays at the end of the building, while the final
module is open to create a covered entrance.
As at the Reliance Controls building, the functions of the
building were not differentiated by the architecture, with
the same structural system covering the warehouse space,
offices and showroom.
A total of 36 of these modules, arranged on a nine by four
grid, enclosed 20,000 square-metres of warehouse space.

• In total the structure is made from 42 square

modules that are each 24 metres by 24 metres. Each
module has a PVC membrane roof stretched across a
grid of arched steel-beams that are held up by ties
connected to masts at their corners.
 It also called for a building that
established a progressive corporate
identity and stood out from the featureless
industrial shed typical of the area.

• It was to suit multiple functions, be

quickly constructed, and capable of
later extension. Architect Norman
Foster of Foster Associates, together
with the engineering firm of Ove Arup
and Partners, responded with a design
for a visually arresting, structurally
self-explicit building that dominated
what has been described as an
otherwise bleak landscape.

Designed and built in the early 1980’s the

brief for the Renault building was to
Scale skeleton model provide a completely flexible internal
space with no internal columns. The world
famous architect Norman Foster came up
with the stayed roof design, along with the
help of Macalloy.
All of the building's functions are contained under one roof.
• The building was also intended to be a physical piece of branding for the French car company with each of the
masts painted bright Renault yellow. To further emphasis the yellow painted elements, the walls, which are
entirely independent of the structure, were inserted two metres into the building.

• Along with the building, Foster's studio designed the majority of fixtures for Renault including the warehouse
storage units and a range of office furniture.

• Glass-topped tables, which were developed for the studio's own offices, were modified for the distribution
facility's offices, restaurant and reception. The tables were developed by Italian furniture manufacturer Tecno
and placed on sale in 1986 – they are still in production.
• This expansive horizontal span is
combined with an internal clear height
of 7.5 metres, allowing the Centre to
accommodate a range of uses from
industrial warehouse racking to its
subdivision into office floors.
• Enveloped by a continuous PVC
membrane roof, pierced by glass
panels at each mast, allowing ample
natural light and ventilation, the
building is also stepped at one end,
narrowing to a single, open bay that
forms a porch alongside a double-
height gallery.
STRUCTURAL DETAILS
 Subject – BMCT-V

Topic- Tensile Structure

Bachelor of Architecture
(2021-2022)

Submitted by

MANANI ABHAY

Batch – I, Roll no.-36

Guided by
Ar. Vishwanath K.R.
 ASHFORD DESIGNER RETAIL OUTLET
• Architect • Structural Engineer
Roger Strik Harbour + Partners Buro Happold

• Strucutre Services Engineer

Tensile John Brady Associates

• Project Timeline Quantity Surveyor

1996-2000 Davis Langdon & Everest

• ClientA Lighting Consultant

BAA McArthurGlen UK Ltd Lighting Design Partnership

• Location • Landscape Architect

Ashford, Kent, UK Derek Lovejoy Partnership

• Construction Cost Contractor

£ 21 000 000 Galliford Northern, Kajima / Laing
Management Joint Venture
• Project Partner
Andrew Morris, Mark Dabon Planning Consultant
Montagu Evans
• Site Area
30 000 m² Civil Engineer
Buro Happold / Arup
• Gross Floor Area
19 000 m²

ABHAY MANANI - 36
 OVERVIEW
The distinctive tent structure is
festive in spirit, unites the centre and
announces itself proudly within the
30-acre site. It is undulating in form,
rising to high points whose vertical
masts act as counterpoints to the
horizontal nature of the
development and local topology. It
wraps around the edge of the leaf-
shaped plan and joins the northern
end of the site.

Instead the single storey retail units

shelter beneath a 30,000 m² high-
tensile fabric roof, one kilometre in
length and supported on 24 bright
orange steel masts.

The distinctive tent structure is

festive in spirit, unites the centre and
announces itself proudly within the
30-acre site.

Servicing to the retail outlet centre is

accessed by a road at the rear of the
retail units, which is concealed from
view by the three metre-high
landscaped embankment.

ABHAY MANANI - 36
 DESIGN
• The defining element of the design is
the light-weight tensile fabric roof,
supported from 22 bright orange steel
masts and attached to the ground by
tension cables attached to circular
concrete pads anchors.

• The tent is undulating in form, rising to

high points where the vertical steel
masts act as counterpoints to the
predominantly horizontal composition.
The tent wraps around the leaf-shaped
plan, joining at the northern end of the
site. Here, pedestrians and train
passengers arrive, passing a tourist
information centre, a public display
area, management suites and a food
court. Those travelling by car arrive
from the southern end of site where
they gain access to the landscaped car
park at the centre of the development.

ABHAY MANANI - 36
 DESIGN

• The roof, the longest continuous tent structure in the world and covering
an area of 30 square kilometres, shelters the ring of single storey units
below. The units themselves, glazed on the inner face and clad in solid blue
panels to the rear, are highly flexible insulated ‘boxes’. Each unit is air-
conditioned with bright yellow external air handling units located on the
rear of the units.

• The boxes can be rapidly reconfigured, allowing for changing retail

demands and a large number of occupants with varying requirements. This
flexibility is achieved through the removal and erection of light-weight
partitions and the reconfiguration of shop fronts as required. The units are
serviced from the rear, directly accessible from the service road, thereby
minimising interruptions to the shop fronts and removing the need to
disrupt the public spaces.

ABHAY MANANI - 36
 CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY
• The roof is the longest continuous
tent form in the world and required
detailed study to establish how it
was to be built in relation to other
trades involved in the project, as
well as ensuring its temporary
structural stability for the duration FABRIC ROOF
of the construction programme.

• The specialist nature of the

lightweight roof, a material similar STRINGS IN FABRIC
to PVC, meant that the steel
fabrication company became part TENSION POLL
of the team early in the design
process. They were then
responsible for the detailed design
and fabrication for this significant
part of the contract. During the
construction, a team of highly
trained riggers were employed as
part of the tent erection team.

ABHAY MANANI - 36
 CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY
• The site remediation strategy formed an important element of the construction programme, and provided a significant challenge for the contractor in
terms of soil grading, washing and batching prior to the construction of the continuous landscaped berm. To avoid the cost and environmental impact of
removing large quantities of material from the site, significant amounts of soil were re-used. Repetitive cladding details and modular design of the
environmental systems also significantly reduced the overall cost of the project

• The structural model for the roof was established by Buro Happold Engineers working in collaboration with Richard Rogers Partnership. Detailed discussions
also influenced the type of cables specified and the nature of the connection details, as well as the specification for the tent-like roof material.

ABHAY MANANI - 36
 PHOTOS

ABHAY MANANI - 36
 REFRENCES
• Ashford Designer Retail Outlet – Retail – Projects – Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners | RSHP (rsh-p.com)

• Tensinet

ABHAY MANANI - 36