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Some of the most striking forms of tensile structures with characteristics that enable them to span large areas of space with lesser depths of support have become trends in modern construction. As highlighted in the above mentioned case, one is in a good standing to acknowledge the fact that today’s technology has played a central role in altering the design and the construction of these fascinating and innovative structures. This blog post will therefore write about how this technology has developed tensile structures, detailing the strutures’ history and current applications.
The idea or the concept of tensile structures can be generalized back to early ages where people used simple fabric tensed for the purpose of getting shade to avoid direct skin contact with sunlight. However it has taken several decades of prescription to such a notion of the tensile structures that materials science and engineering shaped in the twentieth century and the development of which made the construction of these more complex structures possible. These historical reflections make clear that tensile architecture is characterized by advancement of these light but strong materials such as steel cables and synthetic fabrics.
Novelty is the key breakthrough in the tensile structures in terms of material developments where new technologies have been initiated. As mentioned, high-performance fabric comprises of PTFE-based membranes and polyester fabrics that provides the fabric with enhanced features such wear and heat resistance, weather resistance, and excellent appearances. Such materials have enabled the creation of fantastic tensile structures which are also functional.
Computer Aided Design commonly referred to as CAD has proved to be an effective tool for designing tensile structures. As a result of the application of the 4th generation advanced technologies, architects and engineers can design structural works which are complex with a lot of detail, all within a short time. These CAD tools of structures offer a user an added advantage of viewing structures from different directions, performance studies of the structure in general and even environmental conditions for instance the wind or snow loads among others
Design and building of the optimum structure are important nationally for tensile structures to effectively and safely work without failing. Modern means-of-structural-computation and structural-application software are capable of complex structural analysis such as the Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (FEA). FEA enables the engineers to simulate the behavior of tensile structures under different loading conditions thus improving on the design and reducing the chances of failure.
Technological advancement has also affected construction of tensile structures through the use of the following innovative technologies. New technologies help to improve the construction process by providing a number of construction innovations, including prefabrication and modularisation. For instance, large structures such as tensile structures are installed using complex equipment such as cranes and tensioning devices amongst others.
Sustainability is a rather topical issue in architecture and tensile structures are beginning to be appreciated for their environmental friendly nature. Thus, utilisation of lightweight materials and more specifically efficient design and construction can help lower the total carbon emissions. Also, tensile structures can be articulated in a way that benefits from natural light and air in a building, which will help save energy.
Another new development in tensile structures’ design and construction is the use of smart technologies. Smart materials and structures can be installed as part of the fabric or the structural and can include monitoring of environmental conditions, structural integrity and energy usage. This data can then be used for enhancing the performance of the structure, minimize its maintenance expenses as well as enhance the comfort of the occupants of the building.
Various case studies show that actual technological implementation is quite promising for tensile structure design and construction. Among the numerous types of tensile structures, one can distinguish the Munich’s stadium called the Allianz Arena. A special feature of its design is membrane that has a possibility to illuminate in different colors and can be painted in colors of the team. Another well-known example of tensile structures are the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, they use biomes with ETFE residing in air supported structures.
Thus, viewing today’s contemporary technology, one can assume that even more striking and fascinating tensile structures will be developed in future.
Technology has been very useful depending the advancement of the tensile structures’ design and construction. Over the years, the advancement in technology rendered new materials which aided in developing complex structures and also adopted computation techniques to achieve sustainability. It will therefore not be surprising to find even more unique and awe inspiring tensile structures in the future as technology advances.
