Types of Tensile Membrane Structures

The term tensile membrane structures describes the category of buildings in which the load bearing capacity is achieved through tension stress in majority of the components, such as cables, technical fabrics or foils. A membrane structure is most often used as a roof, as they can attractively and efficiently span large distances.

Flexible Design Aesthetics, Outstanding Translucency, Excellent Durability, Lightweight Nature and Low maintenance are some of the great advantages and functional benefits of tensile membrane structures.

Types of Tensile Membrane structures - 

1) Saddle Roof

The saddle is a hyperbolic paraboloid, which means that the membrane structure is characterized by two high peaks and to low points; in other words, the saddle can be conceptualized as a warped rectangular grid.

2) Mast Supported

Tent-like in appearance, mast supported structures typically have one or sometimes several peaks that are supported by either interior or perimeter masts. These structures can also be supported by adjacent buildings. The peaks of a mast supported structure are determined by the design and how the fabric is attached. These structures are primarily suitable for long span roofs.

3) Arch Supported Roofs

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 stress in the arch chord section. One method to significantly reduce these effects is to tie or restrain points along the arch chord to reduce the initial large deformations of the chord.

About Hindustan Alcox Limited  

As a leading Membrane structure manufacturer, Hindustan Alcox Limited specializes in creating complex structural systems with sophisticated design practices. Our fabric structure which include tensile membrane structure, requires a prior understanding of shape and form, the behaviour of the materials used and the forces acting on it. All these parameters are studied by our designers to conceptualise and engineer the final product.      

Read More - Popular Facts About Dome Structures

Advantages of Tensile Membrane Structures

These are thin shell structures and attractively cover large distances carrying only tension, but no compression. The material used for roofing membrane structures are generally (single-layered or double layered) PTFE coated fibre glass, PVC coated Polyester and ETFE Foil. Supportive structural cables used in tensile membrane structure are a series of strands twisted or bound together, leading to a larger cable. Tensile structures are commonly sub-divided in boundary tensioned membranes, pneumatic structures and pre-stressed cable nets and beams.

Advantages of Tensile Membrane Structures –

• Flexible Design Aesthetics – Tensile Membrane structures provide virtually designs of distinctive elegant forms that can be realized because of the unique flexible characteristics.
• Excellent Durability – The durability and longevity of these structures have been proven and built in climates ranging from the frigid arctic to the scorching desert heat.
• Lightweight Nature – The lightweight nature of membrane structures is an efficient solution that requires minimal structural steel to support the roof compared to conventional building materials, enabling long spans of column-free space.
• Low Maintenance – Tensile Membrane structure can be can be coated which makes their maintenance easier as compared to an equivalent-sized conventional building.
• Energy Efficient – Most tensile structures have high sun reflectivity and low absorption of sunlight, thus resulting in less energy used within a building and ultimately reducing energy costs.
• Outstanding Translucency – In daylight, fabric membrane translucency offers diffused, naturally lit spaces reducing the interior lightning costs while at night, artificial lightning creates an ambient exterior luminescence.
• Recyclable material – The tensile membrane structures are made with fabrics which are recyclable. Hence these tensile structures feature minimal carbon footprint.

About Hindustan Alcox

Tensile Membrane structures, which require a prior understanding of shape and form, the behaviour of the materials used and the forces acting on it. As a leading Tensile Membrane Structure producer, Hindustan Alcox Limited specializes in creating customized membrane structures with sophisticated designed practices.

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Tensile Membrane Structures v/s Conventional Structures

Tensile Membrane Structures:

The free form structures which have the ability to enclose a large space with limited supporting steel work compared to conventional roofing structures are tensile membrane structures. A tensile structure not only spans a long distance with the usage of minimum material but also gives designers, architects and engineers the ability to experiment with its shape and create appealing structures. Followings are the keys point to clarify the advantages of tensile structures over conventional structures:-

• Durability: By virtue of the protective coatings on tensile membrane structures, One can expect a lifetime of two to three decades from them. These coatings not only make the fabric structure strong, stable and tear resistant with a high degree of elasticity but also absorbs UV radiation, reflects heat away and maintain its colour.

• Recyclable Design: The tensile membrane structures are made with the fabrics which are recyclable. Hence these tensile structures feature a sustainable and recyclable design over conventional structures.
• Low construction cost & less time consuming: The tensile structures are easy to set up & the total cost of covering the large space using fabrics and steel material is very low as well. The tensile membrane structures takes even less time to set up as well when compared to other traditional structures.
• Removable: Often build with temporary solutions, the roofing membrane structures can be taken off easily and taken away to another place. This 'Removable' feature of membrane structure distinguishes it from conventional building
• Low Transportation cost: The Tensile structures are lightweight so whenever we need to carry its components to another place, this can be done with a very low transportation cost.
• Natural light: Created with transparent membranes, the tensile structures allows a plenty of natural light to flow in and creates an open air feeling. As these membranes can absorb the heat, the temperature under these structures also stay less.

• Hindustan Alcox Limited, New Delhi
  (Tensile membrane structures suppliers)

Recommeded Material Characteristics for an Ideal Membrane Structure

Membrane Structures:

The light-weight and free-formed structure that are evolved utilizing the inherent structural characteristics of the membrane to span a long distance with the usage of minimum material (such as steel cables, columns, membrane) in their construction is Membrane Structure.

Among all types of Membrane structures, Tensile Structures have a unique significance as compared to any other membrane structure. The different fabrication methods of membrane structures play a significant role in the ability to extend and bend. In their free flowing shape and design, these structures not only enable engineers for realizing materials to their fullest potential but also amaze architects & clients, while viewing.

Material Characteristics for an Ideal Membrane Structure:

For a successful tensioned fabric structure, the material properties play key role & extensively responsible to cater the benefits of the membrane material. The selection of membrane material is important to the successful design of the tensioned fabric structure.

Besides their increasing popularity in architectural design & abundance within buildings, the main concern is to recognize the material characteristics for membrane structure, which can be the ideal not only for the durable and maintenance purpose but also to sustain their elegance for the long time. The material characteristics are:-

• Mechanical properties
• Light transmission
• Resistance to UV radiation
• Fire resistance
• Fabric Types
• Seam strength
• Weather Proof
• Stain resistance
• Adaptable to Temperature

As a leading ETFE and PTFE manufacturers, Hindustan Alcox Limited specializes in creating elegant membrane structures with sophisticated design practices. Our fabric architecture also includes tensile membrane structures, which require a prior understanding of shape and form, the behavior of the materials used and the forces acting on it.

• Hindustan Alcox Limited, New Delhi
  (Tensile Membrane Structures producers in india)

Membrane Structures: Factors affecting their Performance

Membrane structures:

With the ability to span large distances in a structurally efficient way, the structures that offer a lot of interesting design combinations & possibilities are membrane structures. Developments in material technology and the understanding of the structural behavior of membrane show that these structures are now technically feasible to enclose very large spaces with a minimum of material. These are the only structures that satisfy both attractive architects’ design as well as structural design. Membrane structures are not only visually exciting, but also environmentally good and economically competitive as well.

Among fabric structures, tensile membrane structures as a component of modern architecture is accepted increasingly all over the world. These ETFE Structures are featured by having a rather small mass with respect to the applied load. Before building tensile membrane structures, the effect of changing the shape and materials is analysed in different ways, with the assistance of some specialized software. Followings are the key features of a tensile membrane structures:

• Durable (long life)
• Highly aesthetics
• Light in weight
• Flame Resistant & UV Resistance
• Covers large span without support
• Ease in fabrication
• Fast installation
• Ease in maintenance
• 100% recyclable with minimal cost

Factors Affecting Performance of Membrane Structures:

In different parts of the world, Observation of membrane structures in different situations and conditions shows variation in the sustainability of the structures & has a very significant effect on their performance. Some of the Key factors influencing the performance of membrane structures are as follows:

·        Geographic latitude & the temperature

·        UV radiation level reaching the membrane

·        Humidity level in atmosphere

·        Pollution level (the type of pollutants)

·        Dust level in atmosphere nearby

·        Frequency of cleaning operations

·        Deposition of matters (leaves, etc.) onto the fabric

·        Staining resulting from rainwater run-off, over other building materials

·        Exposure to direct rainfall

·        Assistance in dirt and dust removal

The expertise of company “Hindustan Alcox Limited” in Membrane Structure design & its execution capabilities reflect in the many Stadiums and many other creative structures executed throughout the country. The Membrane structures engineered by the company are not only designed to undergo very large displacements, but also remain operational & extendable. As a leading membrane structures manufacturer, Hindustan Alcox Limited specializes in creating customized membrane structures with sophisticated designed practices. The fabric structures also includes tensile membrane structures, which require a prior understanding of shape and form, the behavior of the materials used and the forces acting on it. 

-          Hindustan Alcox Limited, New Delhi

(Membrane structures manufacturers in india)

Membrane Structures: Construction Advantages & Environmental Properties

Membrane structures were originally used to provide shelter where materials were scarce, or mobility was required. Developments in material technology and the understanding of the structural behavior tensile membrane structure mean that it is now technically feasible to enclose very large spaces with a minimum of material.

Due to variation of transmittance, reflectivity and emissivity of the membranes accomplished in the solar and infrared radiation band separately, tensile structures play a useful role in the relevance of environmentally friendly.

Besides, these structures can be used as climate modifiers in both hot and cold regions, offering in some circumstances conditions suitable for human occupation which conventional buildings may be sited and operated in a highly efficient manner.

Construction Advantages of Membrane Structures

The Construction of Membrane structures offer the following advantages: −

·        Low consumption of resources

·        Short installation time

·        Limited number of personnel required

·        Deployable at different undergrounds without any destructive installations

Environmental Properties of Membrane Structures

Roofing membrane structures have very little thermal mass & as a consequence, react very quickly to changes in the environment around them. Followings are the Environmental properties of membrane structures are:

1.     Optical properties:

Tensile Membrane Structures (TMS) allows to control the light transmittance in the covered area. This results in the tendency of fabric membrane properties to change more significantly at higher angles of solar incidence, which greatly reduces the solar energy and heat gain that enters the structure, thus resulting in less energy used within a building.

2.     Thermal Properties: 

The large surface area of tensile structures compared to their thickness means that they have insufficient mass to significantly affect their thermal behavior. The amount and direction  of the  conduction  of heat through the fabric material depends on a number of  changeable  factors like air temperatures, the wind speed, U-value, the thickness of the fabric etc.

As a leading membrane structures manufacturers, Hindustan Alcox Limited specializes in creating customized membrane structures with sophisticated designed practices. Our fabric architecture also includes tensile membrane structures, which require a prior understanding of shape and form, the behavior of the materials used and the forces acting on it. 

-  Hindustan Alcox limited, New Delhi

(Membrane Structure Manufacturer In India)

Membrane Structure: Introduction & Its Features

As per structural and architectural point of view, Membrane structures are light and freeform structures to span a long distance with the minimum material used in their manufacturing. Membrane structures offers a lot of interesting possibilities ranging from railway platform roofing to sports complex. These membrane structures are mostly used as architectural feature for varied applications. In the urban environment, membrane structures are traditionally designed as highly curved structures, and nowadays more and more also as flat structures, in highly aesthetic manner.

Hindustan Alcox Limited, one of the leading membrane structures manufacturers specializes in building customized membrane structures with sophisticated designed practices. Our fabric architecture covers not only complex tensioned membrane structures but also non-tensile, aesthetically appealing and unique fabric sculptures.  Complex designs of these tensile membrane structures require a prior understanding of shape and form, the behavior of the materials used and the forces acting on it.  Applied loads not only have a big impact on the final shape, but also govern the material type to be used.

Features of membrane structures

Today, membrane structures are also increasingly used for weather protection in publicly used places. Some of the emerging features of membrane structures are as follows:

·        Translucency:  These fabric membrane structures offer partially lit spaces in the day light which reduces the cost of interior lightening. Moreover, at night artificial lightening magnifies its elegance and creates ambient exterior luminescence.

·         Durability: :Ranging from a frigid arctic climate to hot & scorching weather, membranes such as PTFE fiberglass, ETFE film and PVC  proved to be an excellently durable and long lasting fabrics used in the manufacturing of membrane structures .

·      Light-weight: : Need of less structural steel to support the roof in building membrane structures as compared to that conventional building not only enables long spans of column-free space, but also exhibits its light weight property as its special feature.

·        Low maintenance: : As compared to conventional building, an equivalent-sized membrane structure needs minimum maintenance which not only exhibits their unique quality but also become one of the reasons to opt these structure as first choice by clients.

·        Energy Conservation: High sun reflectivity and low absorption of sunlight by most of membrane structures, results in less energy used within a building and ultimately reducing electrical energy costs.

·        Highly Aesthetic: : Due to unique flexible characteristics of membranes (such as PTFE fiberglass, ETFE film and PVC), Membrane structures provide a large number of designs with distinctive elegant forms, resulting into an iconic & unique structure for any building owner, city or region.

-        -   Hindustan Alcox Limited, New Delhi

Membrane Structures: The Structures In Growing Trend

Membrane structures:

Tensile membrane structure

The light and freeform structure to span a long distance with the usage of minimum material (such as steel cables, columns, membrane) in their manufacturing is Membrane Structure. Besides offering many interesting possibilities ranging from railway platform roofing to sports complex, these structures are highly energy-efficient & save much money in transportation too. In the urban region, membrane structures are traditionally designed as structures with high curvature, and nowadays more and more as flat structures, in highly aesthetic way. Additionally, these roofing membrane structures begin to mixed with glass in order to produce bright filled spaces.

Key Reasoning Behind Their Growing Trend:

In Architectural Industry, Membrane structures have been used for more than 50 years. Besides their increasing popularity in architectural design & abundance within buildings, the main concern is to recognize the reason behind the increasing trend and growing popularity in almost every sphere of life whether it is commercial, residential or industrial. The key reasons are as follows:

·        Aesthetic Design with fashion sense: Membrane structures can be easily manipulated into various types of shapes and are rich in color. Formation of Aesthetic night scenes with the coordination of light, gives membrane structures a competitive edge with today’s high-tech modern buildings.

·        Less Energy Consumption: Membrane material used in the structures is relatively good in transmission of light (with 7% to 20% transmittance),  not only makes full use of natural light, but also consumes least energy. This makes people feel good and dreamlike.

·        Rapid Construction: The tailoring of membrane diaphragms, the manufacturing of steel cables, steel structures etc. are finished in factories. Only linkage, positioning & installment of steel cables & steel structures are carried out on the construction site, makes the overall manufacturing easy as well as fast.

·       Safety & Reliability: Roofing Membrane structures are light in weight and their earthquake resistance is relatively better than other steel structures. These structures can tolerate of a huge amount of displacement in overall collapse of building.

·        Weather Resistance: The weather resistance of membrane material is a comprehensive index, which prevents membrane structures to get affected by natural phenomena such as daylight, temperature variation, rain wash, dust erosion. This outlines its years of service, its aging resistance, self-cleaning ability and intensity attenuation.

·        Optical Properties: The optical properties of membrane material refer to optical phenomenon like reflection, transmission, absorption and scattering. The effects of membrane material on light of various different wave bands satisfy the light requirements of various indoor activities.

·        Fireproofing Performance: The membrane material itself is non-inflammable or flame retardant. Maintaining the stability of the framework of membrane structure in the case of fire/damage of membrane surface is one another noticeable issue connected to the fireproofing of membrane structure.

·        Sufficient Durability: Stability & durability are basic mechanical properties that all building structures must satisfy. Ranging from a frigid arctic climate to hot & scorching weather, membranes such as PTFE fiberglass, ETFE film and PVC  proved to be an excellently durable and long lasting fabrics used in the manufacturing of membrane structures .

As a leading membrane structures manufacturers, Hindustan Alcox Limited  specializes in creating customized membrane structures with sophisticated designed practices. Our fabric architecture also includes tensile membrane structures, which require a prior understanding of shape and form, the behavior of the materials used and the forces acting on it. 

-         Hindustan Alcox Limited, New Delhi