Cable-nets and Tensioned Membrane Structures: Insights from the Form-finding Process

Cable-nets and tensioned membrane structures demonstrate unique behaviour due to their flexibility. Geometrical nonlinearities play a significant role in both form-finding and force analysis. Advancements in solution methods to nonlinear problems and commercially available programs have made parametric studies an efficient endeavour.

This paper provides insights about the parametric effects in structural behaviour during the form-finding process for cable-nets and membrane structures. A series of hypar and cone forms were investigated were examined; the effects of different prestress levels and span-to-height ratios were studied. The behaviours are compared and observations are presented. The form-finding analysis was done using the program RFEM that employs the Updated Reference Strategy (URS) based on iterative regularization of the stiffness matrix during the process. This work is a prelude to the ongoing parametric study on structural behaviour of prestressed configurations under external loads.