Fully integrated design and analysis of Tensioned Fabric Structures: Finite elements and case studies

In this paper, novel finite elements are presented for the accurate and reliable fully-integrated design and analysis of Tensioned Fabric Structures (TFS). The true stress fields experienced by TFS are then investigated by means of case studies. Both a sliding cable element and a membrane element are formulated and verified. The membrane element departs from conventional elements for the design and analysis of TFS, in that it is based on the founding assumption that the fabric patterns are flat in their unstressed state. This assumption mirrors the construction process for fabrics, meaning that the analytical structural model converges closer to physical reality. For the case studies, simple structures have been designed, invoking the integrated design procedure, and several design issues have been studied. The case studies show how stress-fields may vary across real TFS and demonstrate the viability of constructing structures with wider patterns, increasing the buildability of TFS. The case studies also scrutinize the assumption made in conventional design procedures that the patterns can be flattened without inducing significant additional stresses. It is shown that these additional stresses may be of sizeable magnitude and their effect should be included in the design of TFS.