Fabric Structures Matthew Birchall Newcastle

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Fabric StructuresMatthew Birchall (Newcastle)
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Introduction

• What are Fabric Membrane Structures?
• What are the features of Fabric Structures?
• How do we analyse design Fabric Structures?
• Final Thoughts

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Principal Features of Fabric Membranes

• What is a Membrane Structure?
• Membrane Structures are those that resist all
  applied loads through tension in the structural
  material
• Form is fundamental as all loads resisted by
  tension in the membrane surface
• Typical forms of fabric structures are
  doubly-curved surfaces

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Principal Features of Fabric Membranes

• What is a Fabric Structure?
• Fabric is a woven material, and can resist only
  tension loads
• Woven cloths are coated to improve strength, and
  to create a weather-tight membrane
• PVC-coated polyester cloth or
• PTFE-coated glass cloth

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Benefits of Fabric Structures

• Sculptural forms
• Lightweight construction
• Large clear spans
• Demountable structures
• Translucent, weather-tight cladding
• Passive environmental control
• Low maintenance
• Relatively low initial cost
• A combination of architecture, structure,
  cladding and environmental control

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How do we Design Fabric Membranes?

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How do we design Fabric Membranes?
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How do we Design Fabric Membranes?

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Dalton Park, County Durham
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Dalton Park Canopies
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Dalton Park Canopies
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Dalton Park Canopies
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Dalton Park Canopies - Installation
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Dalton Park Canopies
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Dalton Park Canopies
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Dalton Park Canopies
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Dalton Park Canopies
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Dalton Park Canopies Form Finding
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Dalton Park Canopies Form Finding
Non-Form-found Geometry membrane form is a
first-guess only, with the boundary conditions
determining the final form
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Dalton Park Canopies Form Finding
Form-found Geometry real geometry at prestress
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Dalton Park Canopies Form Finding
Dummy Bars Steelwork
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Dalton Park Canopies Form Finding
Spacers Membrane Elements
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Dalton Park Canopies Prestress
Warp Weft Membrane Prestress
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Dalton Park Canopies Analysis
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Dalton Park Canopies Analyses
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Dalton Park Canopies Mast Buckling
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Dalton Park Canopies
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Dalton Park Canopies
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Fabric Structures in Arup

• Arup has long and distinguished history with
  Fabric Structures
• Traditionally perceived as industry leaders in
  Analysis Design
• Arup developed the original tools for analysing
  fabric structures using Dynamic Relaxation
• Newcastle University and Arup are developing a
  better understanding of fabric material
  properties, more robust analysis models,
  structure wind interaction and a reliability
  based approach to design

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Fabric Structures Research Development
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Fabric StructuresMatthew Birchall (Newcastle)