Good textbooks or references on membrane covered frames

[enginerding]

I am looking for recommendations on good textbooks or other references for fabric-covered frame structures. This will not be pressure inflated.

Our client wants us to design only the frames and not the membrane itself. "Design it assuming that the fabric gets the loads into the truss, but we don't really care if the fabric blows off or stays on, as long as the frames can take the all the loads if the fabric stays on. The fabric and its connections are by the manufacturer." I am looking for some reference that discusses the design procedures to see if this is standard practice. I also want to know what tension loads to expect at the end frames where they are not "balanced out" by the tension on the opposite bay.

Thanks!

 

[dhengr]

Check out “Fabric Architecture” magazine and IFAI Industrial Fabrics Association International, 651-222-2508 (800-225-4324)

http://www.ifai.com.

Obviously, the skin is a tension structure, but those people can do some really crazy things as a function of geometry in plan and elevation, and various materials used. I would not do something like you’re planning, except in collaboration with the skin (fabric) manufacturer, and their supplying your loads and their tie downs, etc.

 

[BAretired]

CSA has a standard on membrane covered frames or cables. I don't know how much use it would be if you don't reside in Canada.

http://www.shopcsa.ca/onlinestore/GetCatalogItemDetails.asp?mat=000000000002020124

BA

 

[JedClampett]

So your client doesn't mind if the fabric breaks loose and blows away. I certainly would. What if it blows into the path of a car on the highway? What if it wraps around a power pole and it falls down due to the added wind load? You need to treat the fabric just like any other component or cladding. It can fail locally, that's your choice, but it can't impact your or other structures.
We do structures like this all the time. We provide the framing and have a vendor design the fabric and its attachment. But the fabric is designed for the code wind load. Then we backcheck their loads vs. what we assumed.
There's a engineering company in Dallas who specializes in fabric structure design. The name escapes me now, but it shouldn't be hard to find. I've seen articles in Structural Engineering Magazine about their work.

 

[enginerding]

I mind too. The car on a highway thing is exactly what I brought up! Of course I said that it could land on the windshield of the car...

Did that company in Dallas design the Cowboys practice stadium?

 

[JedClampett]

Actually, that (Cowboys Practice Facility) was designed out of Las Vegas.
The company I'm thinking of is called Fabritec Structures which is a branch of USA Shade and Fabric Structures. For an article about their work, see:

http://www.modernsteel.com/Uploads/Issues/October_2009/102009_CynthiaWoods_Web.pdf

 

[Tensiledesign]

I am responding to JedClampet/dhengr

I am a shareholder of FabriTec Structures and we have absolutely nothing to do with the Dallas Cowboys Practice Facility. I am familiar with what happened to that facility but the company responsible for the design and engineering is not out of Las Vegas.

I do however agree with you on the fact that designing tensile structures is a complicated business and that it involves the integration of membrane engineering as well as structural support engineering to complete the entire design. You will need the prestress load conditions from your membrane to design the structural steel supports and foundations. It would not be a good idea to have a tear away membrane for permanent applications. I would highly suggest you get a company like FabriTec involved to review your concept and design to ensure that the correct engineering procedures are adhered to.