Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION
The importance of manufacture and erection
Ambition, aim and scheme of the book
2 MATERIALS FOR TENSILE SURFACE STRUCTURES
Introduction
Structural composition and manufacture
Linear load-bearing elements
Surface load-bearing elements
Material behaviour of coated fabrics
Mechanical properties
Fabrication of coated fabrics
Development
Compensation, strip layout
Criteria for the patterning
Cutting out the pieces
Methods of jointing surfaces
Permanent surface joints
Reusable surface joints
Methods of transferring force at the edge
Geometry of the edging and effect on bearing behaviour
The detailing of edges and their anchorage at corners
Edge details
Corner details
3 CONSTRUCTION OF TENSILE SURFACE STRUCTURES
Introduction
Construction management
Aims and tasks of construction management
Scheduling
Modelling erection procedures
Construction engineering
Design detailing for erection practicality
Erection equipment and machinery
Cranes and lifting devices
Tensioning devices and equipment for ropes
Tensioning devices and aids for membrane sheets
Scaffolding working platforms and temporary construction
Erection procedure
Criteria affecting the erection procedure
Remarks about the erection of the primary structure
Erection procedures for membrane structures
Construction
Preparation work and preassembly
Lifting and hanging structural elements
Introduction of loads - pretensioning
Control of the forces in flexible structural elements
Determination of force in ropes
Measurement of membrane stresses
4 SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK
References
Illustration acknowledgements
Projects (1989-2007)

About the Author

DI Dr. techn. Michael Seidel is lecturing in membrane structures at the Institute of Architecture and Design of the Technical University Vienna. As consultant engineer he has a wide range of experiences in planning and realising membrane and cable structures.

Reviews

The great value of the book is the well-founded analysis, classification and evaluation of the complex process of planning and creation of tensile structures. .... The book can be warmly recommended to all architects and engineers concerned with the design and construction of membrane structures.
CHRISTOPH GENGNAGEL