Tensile Membrane Structures

Abstract

According to their definition, membrane structures carry loads by membrane forces only, with no or only insignificant bending. If tensile and compressive membrane forces are permitted, we speak of shells. If the compressive forces are eliminated, we speak of tensile membrane structures. Their aim is to actually ' realize the surface itself with a material which is able to carry tensile forces only, in order to achieve extreme lightness or even translucence.