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AR6010 Advance Structures

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N E H R U S C H O O L O F A R C H I T E C T U R E C O I M B ATO R E
 SYLLABUS
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UNIT I -PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

• Losses of Prestress – Design requirements – Design of determinate beams.
UNIT II- FLAT SLABS
• Proportioning of flat slabs – Methods of analysis and design – Design of flat slabs – Shear in flat slab – Code
provisions.
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UNIT III -HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

• Introduction – Load action in high rise buildings – Various structural systems – Approximate analysis and Design
of frames for gravity and horizontal loadings.
UNIT IV -TENSILE STRUCTURES
• Concept, Development, Laws of formation, Merits and Demerits of Pneumatic structures – Basic principles,
Various forms, Merits and Demerits of cable structures.
UNIT V -GRIDS, DOMES AND FOLDED PLATES
• Grids – Types of Grids – Domes – Geodesic domes – Shells and various forms – folded plates
 4.Tensile structure
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• Tensile structure is a new and innovative idea of

structuring and roofing. It is a membrane that is placed
on steel cables. It is a soft, translucent, light and long
lasting structure that takes less time to construct. Tensile
structure is suitable to construct all types of structures in
roofing.
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• It provides solutions for stadium, walkways, parking,

swimming pool, hotels, and in other places as per clients’
need.
• The materials used in tensile structures are Teflon, Cable,
Polyester cloth, Fiber and PVC. Tensile can sustain for a
long time by resisting sunlight, heavy rain and wind. It is
very easy to clean.
 Feature of tensile structure
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• The feature of Tensile structure has increased it’s demand. It is

flexible enough to design any structures as per requirement.
These are light weighted so that it can be carried anywhere
easily. It is cost effective and costs low for maintenance.
• The tensile structures are beneficial at different places like
stadium, auditorium, resort, walkways, hotels, mall, cafe,
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theater, car parking, swimming pool ,etc. It has long life and
can be recycled.
• Light weight
• Translucent
• High durability
• Flexible
• Low maintenance cost
 Pneumatic structure
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Pneumatic structure is a membrane which carries load

developed from the tensile stresses, its stabilization is
done by prestressing the membrane either by:-
a) applying an external force which pulls the membrane
taut.
b) internal pressurizing if the membrane is volume
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enclosing. Such structures are called “pneumatic

structures”.
these structures can create artificial environments
adaptable to human use .the pneumatic forms are bound
to increase n popularity, owing to the tremendous
freedom they provide to the architects in designing large
free spaces within them.
 Pneumatic structure
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Principle:-
• its principle is the use of relatively thin membrane
supported by a pressure difference.
• Through increasing the inside air pressure not only the
dead weight of the space envelope is balanced, but the
membrane is stressed to a point where it cannot be
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indented by asymmetrical loading .

General characteristics:-
1) light weight:-
a) the weight of the structure as compared to the area it
covers is very less
 Pneumatic structure
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2) the weight of the membrane roof , even when it is stiffened by cables, is very small
3) low air pressure is sufficient to balance it
4) even with spans of more than 100mts, the weight of the
structure does not exceed 3kg/square meter .
2) span :-
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• no structure can guarantee to give the spans up to certain limits cable structures are
exceptions( cables for bridges usually).
• for a building, then the limitation is 500 feet span due to
• its self weight.
• another advantage over other structures is that, for
 Pneumatic structure
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• pneumatic membrane , there is no theortical maximum span as determined by

strength, elasticity, specific weight or any other property.
• it is hardly possible to span a distance of over 36km. with a steel cables as they would
fail because of their inability to sustain their own weight. but with pneumatics, such
spans are quiet possible.
• 3) safety:- pneumatic structures are safer than any other structure. otherwise, a
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proper care should be taken while establishing

• accidental circumstances are avoided as they are very light.
• there are warning signals while the release of return valve. safety factor+ warning
time is quiet long as compared to other structures.
• pneumatic structures cant be destroyed by fire quickly and totally.
 Pneumatic structure
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4. theft:- it is very safe no body can or pass through a pneumatic structure. if an air bag is cut with a
knife/ pin, a bang is produced.
5. human health:-in most cases, pressure of not more than 80-100mm and not less than 60mm.but
man can withstand pressures between 0.20 atm to 3 atm. therefore no health hazard is presented
by continuous stay in a pneumatic structure.
6. quick erection and dismantling:- suitable for temporary constructions because they are as easy
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to dismantle as to establish.
1 sq.km. of an area can be brought down in 6 hours. And establish in less than 10 hours. the 4 hours
difference is due to establishment of pegs etc.
6. economy:- it is not expensive where it is used for shifting structures. for permanent structures, it
is very expensive. otherwise the cost per square foot of air supported structures is among the
lowest for large span roofs.
good natural light:- gives good natural light as translucent/transparent plastic sheets are used to
cover air bags. We can even bring the whole sun inside. there is a lot of flexibility in getting sun
light(50%-80%).
 Types of Pneumatic structure
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These are primary classes of pneumatic structures:-

Air supported structures and Air –inflated structures
Air – supported structures:- it consist of a single membrane(enclosing a functionally
useful space) which is supported by a small internal pressure difference. The internal
volume of a building air is consequently at a pressure higher than atmospheric. the air
supported structure uses a low positive pressure to support a membrane over a given
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area. air must be supplied contently because of the continuous leakage, primarily
through the buildings used most often because of:
• their relatively low cost
• their simplicity of design and fabrication
 Classification of Pneumatic structure
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PNEUMATIC STRUCTURES CAN BE FURTHER SUBDIVIDED AS:-

1)TYPE OF DIFFRENTIAL PRESSURE
2)DEGREE OF DIFFRENTIAL PRESSURE
3)TYPE OF SURFACE CURVATURE
4)PROPORTIONS
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 Classification of Pneumatic structure
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Type of differential pressure:-.

a) pneumatic structures use either positive pressure or negative pressure.
b) in (+) pressure system, the membrane is always curved outwards, whereas in
negative pressure systems the membrane is curved inwards.
c) being curved inwards there is a tendency of water logging & snow accumulation .
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d) moreover, negative pressure systems require high supports at the edge or in the
center which makes it more expensive.
e) both of these systems are used for storage purposes as they can kill the rodents.
 Classification of Pneumatic structure
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2. degree of differential pressure:-

Low pressure systems -
• These systems are provided with low pressure air ;hence have to be provided with
continuous supply of air.eg-air supported structures.
High pressure systems -
• Used for easy erection & dismantling ; the pressure difference is between 2000-
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7000mm of water pressure (100 to 1000 times) low pressure systems. These high
pressure air inflated systems are either having a single valve system or a double valve
systems which avoids it’s collapse.
 Classification of Pneumatic structure
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Type of surface curvatures:- These structures can also be classified according to the
types of curvature on the outer surface
a)single curved
b)doubly curved in the same direction or synclastics
c)doubly curved in opposite direction or anticlastic
4. proportions:- on the basis of different proportions,pneumatic structures can be:-
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• two dimension of similar size and one larger dimension,

• eg:-“tubes”,”masts”,”columns”,”towers”.
• two dimensions of similar size and one smaller dimension,
• eg:-“cushions”, ”lenses”, ”discuss”,”mattresses”.
• three dimensions of similar size,
• eg:- “baloons”,”balls”,”spheres”, ”bubbles
 Materials
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Isotropic:- these show the same strength and stretch in all directions. examples are:-
• plastic films:- these are primarily produced from pvc, poly
• ethylene, polyester, polyamide etc.
• fabrics:- these may be made of glass fibers or synthetic
• fibers which are coated in a pvc, polyester or polyurethane film.
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• rubber membrane:- they are the lightest and most flexible.

• metal foils:- they possess a very high gas diffusion resistance and high tensile
strength . one of the major problems in the use of metal foils is in need to produce
very exact cutting patterns.
 Materials
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An isotropic materials:- these do not show the same strength and stretch ability in all
directions. they have direction oriented properties. examples are:-
• woven fabrics:- they have two main direction of weave. They can be made of:-
• organic fibers eg:- wool, cotton or silk.
• mineral fibres eg:- glass fibres.
• metal fibers eg:- thin steel wires.
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• synthetic fibres eg:- polyamide, polyester and polyvinyl.

• gridded fabric:- these are coarse-weave made of organic mineral or synthetic fibers or
metallic networks.
• they are particularly used where maximum light transmission and high strength is required.
• synthetic rubbers:- combination of plastic and rubber. They can take better wear and tear.
they are latest and aremore resistant to elongation.
• plastics:- like woven fabrics. its advantage is that they have more of tensile strength than
normally manufactured.
 Cable structure
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• A cable is a flexible structural component that offers

no resistance when compressed or bent in a curved
shape. Technically we can say cable has zero
bending rigidity.
• It can only support tensile loading.
• Cables are often used in engineering structures for
support and to transmit load from one point to
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another when used to support suspension roofs,

bridges and trolley wheels, cables form the main
load carrying element in the structure.
• In analysis of cables the weight of itself cable is
rejected . We assume that cable is flexible and
inextensible. Due to its flexibility cables offers no
resistance to shear or bending.
 Cable structure
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• Being inextensible the cable has constant length

before and after the load is applied. As a result
once the load is applied the geometry of cable
remains fixed.
• The easiest structure type to think is a tension
structure to resist only tensile force and of these
, the simplest are those which sustain only
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unidirectional tension as represented by a cable

or thin rod.
• A cable is the main component of cable
supported bridge or suspended roof structures
that are classified as follows.
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2. Stayed type cable.

Types of cable
1. Suspension type cable.
 Suspension type cable
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• A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck (the load-bearing portion) is
hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders.
• This type of bridge has cables suspended between towers, plus vertical suspender
cables that carry the weight of the deck below, upon which traffic crosses. This
arrangement allows the deck to be level or to arc upward for additional clearance.
• The main type of force in a suspension bridge are tension in cables and compression
in the pillars.
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 Suspension type cable
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• The suspension cables must be anchored at each end of the bridge, since any load
applied to the bridge is transformed into a tension in these main cables.
• The main cables continue beyond the pillars to deck-level supports, and further
continue to connections with anchors in the ground.
• The roadway is supported by vertical suspender cables or rods, called hangers.
• The bridge will usually have two smaller spans, running between either pair of pillars
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and the highway, which may be supported by suspender cables or may use a truss
bridge to make this connection. In the latter case there will be very little arc in the
outboard main cables.
 Suspension type cable
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Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco

Akashi Kaikyo Suspension Bridge:
 Assumption
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• Cables are pure tension members.

• Used as
Supports to suspension roofs
Suspension bridges
Trolley wheels
• Self weight of cable is neglected in analysis of above structures
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• When used as cables for antennas or transmission lines, weight is considered.

 Stayed type cable
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Cable-Stayed Bridges
• A cable-stayed bridge has one or more towers (or pylons), from which cables support
the bridge deck.
• There are two major classes of cable-stayed bridges: harp and fan.
• In the harp or parallel design, the cables are nearly parallel so that the height of their
attachment to the tower is proportional to the distance from the tower to their
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mounting on the deck.

• In the fan design, the cables all connect to or pass over the top of the towers. The fan
design is structurally superior with minimum moment applied to the towers but for
practical reasons the modified fan is preferred especially where many cables are
necessary. In the modified fan arrangement the cables terminate near to the top of
the tower but are spaced from each other sufficiently to allow better termination,
improved environmental protection, and good access to individual cables for
maintenance
 Stayed type cable
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Rion-Antirion Bridge
Kanchanaphisek Bridge, Bangkok.
 Stayed type cable
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• A cable-stayed bridge has one or more towers (or pylons), from which cables support
the bridge deck.
• There are two major classes of cable-stayed bridges: harp and fan.
• In the harp or parallel design, the cables are nearly parallel so that the height of their
attachment to the tower is proportional to the distance from the tower to their
mounting on the deck.
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• In the fan design, the cables all connect to or pass over

the top of the towers. The fan design is structurally
superior with minimum moment applied to the towers
but for practical reasons the modified fan is preferred
especially where many cables are necessary. In the
modified fan arrangement the cables terminate near to
the top of the tower but are spaced from each other
sufficiently to allow better termination, improved
environmental protection, and good access to individual
cables for maintenance.
 Load bearing mechanism of cable stayed bridges
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• In the cable-stayed bridge, the towers are the primary load-bearing structures which
transmit the bridge loads to the ground.
• A cantilever approach is often used to support the bridge deck near the towers, but
lengths further from them are supported by cables running directly to the towers.
• This has the disadvantage, compared to the suspension bridge, that the cables pull to
the sides as opposed to directly up, requiring the bridge deck to be stronger to resist
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the resulting horizontal compression loads; but has the advantage of not requiring
firm anchorages to resist the horizontal pull of the main cables of the suspension
bridge.
• By design all static horizontal forces of the cable-stayed bridge are balanced so that
the supporting towers do not tend to tilt or slide, needing only to resist horizontal
forces from the live loads.
 Advantages of suspension bridges
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• Suspension bridges have a high strength to weight ratio.

• They are flexible (can also be disadvantage) and can span long distances
with no piers therefore good on very high places, across water etc. and
they require little access from below aiding construction.
• They can be very thin and therefore less visible.
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• They have an elegant look.

• The area spanned by a suspension bridge is very long in proportion to
the amount of materials required to construct bridges.
 Advantages of cable stayed
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• The cable-stayed deck is in compression, pulled towards the towers, and

has to be stiff at all stages of construction and use.
• A great advantage of the cable-stayed bridge is that it is essentially made
of cantilevers, and can be constructed by building out from the towers.
• cable-stayed bridges possess higher stiffness and display smaller
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deflections when compared with suspension bridges

• Construction time is less for cable stayed bridges.
• Cable Stayed Bridges require less cables
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THANK YOU 
Ar Gokul sp
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Assistant Professor - Nehru School of Architecture, Coimbatore

+91-9094840755 Gokul.nsa@nehrucolleges.com

N E H R U S C H O O L O F A R C H I T E C T U R E C O I M B ATO R E