Fabric roof references

[TLHS]

Hi all,

I'm looking at some work from a local company that does fabric roofed buildings/shelters. I am hesitant in general, but they also seem to treat wind and snow reasonably, which is always the big concern with these types of buildings. I also know they've used reputable engineers in the past

However, from some of the detailing it like like the fabric membrane is probably part of how they're justifying compression member bracing in their trusses. I don't love it but there's probably actually a reasonable load path there when I think about it.

I'm just curious if anyone knows of books, design guides or anything similar that deals with these kinds of structures? I'm not managing to find them easily. Is there any association equivalent to the MBMA?

 

[JedClampett]

Here's a study of one that fell down:

https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=904696

 

[TLHS]

I was aware of that collapse but had previously stopped reading when it said that demand to capacity was off by a factor of six. It actually discusses my question, although it just calls it 'disputed'.

It references an asce committee that hadn't yet published, and it looks like that's now become ASCE 55

 

[TLHS]

I took a look and ASCE 55 talks about the membrane material and a bunch of fire stuff, which is definitely helpful, but unfortunately doesn't give me a definitive basis for this sort of frame design, which is too bad.

 

[haynewp]

I’ve had a project that used that type of structure before. I think I received a sample building calc from them on how they work, I will look and see if I can find it. You might ask if they are willing to give you that.