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Structural Material for Tensile Structures
Structural Material for Tensile Structures
In this section we will take a closer look at membrane structures as they are more advanced than cable net structures. Membrane structures are built out of a special textile material, and because of that are sometimes known as textile structures. Two of the most frequently used types of textile membrane material include PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) materials. There are also some more modern materials, primarily silicone-based, which have better properties than the aforementioned materials, but are still not widely used, and so will not be discussed in detail here.
Even though they are similar to the materials which are used for pneumatic structures, membrane structural materials differ from them in terms of their characteristics. The basic difference between the materials used for membrane structures and those used for pneumatic structures is in the material structure itself. In the case of pneumatic structures, today we mainly use ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), which is a material similar to foil and has a homogenous structure in all its points. It is transparent, and very easily connects to itself through a process of welding at higher temperatures. Unlike it, membrane materials have a heterogeneous structure which consists of a textile core and protective coatings, whose joint thickness is approximately 1 mm. The textile core allows material resistance to tension, and represents a load-bearing layer. In the case of PVC material, it is made out of polyester fibers, and the protective layers are PVC-based, while in the case of PTFE material, the core is made of fiberglass fibers, and the protective layers are made of PTFE. The role of the protective layers is to protect the load-bearing layer from the influence of the sun, from the chemicals in the atmosphere, and to ensure the waterproof nature of the membrane. Due to its structure, the membrane materials are not transparent, but they are translucent. The amount of filtered light depends on the type of material. One of the greatest problems of membrane materials is their difficulty to connect due to their extensive number of layers. Any connections are established through welding or high frequency welding. These connections are numerous in every structure, and they must exist in order for us to obtain a double curved form from planar material parts.
PVC and PTFE materials differ from each other, and it is precisely these differences that will determine which of these materials will be used in a specific case. The differences between PVC and PTFE materials are reflected primarily in the greater endurance of the PTFE materials. This includes greater resistance to the forces of tension, and the longer lifespan of the material. PVC materials in practice last between 10 and 30 years, while the PTFE material can be used for over 50 years. The production process of these two materials differs significantly one from the other and it is more complicated for the PTFE material, which is why this material is more expensive. At the same time, it requires special conditions during transport since it is very sensitive to any double-axe folding. That is why in the case of structures with retractable roofs PVC material is usually used.
Source: masterbuilder
Relevant Information
- What is the Membrane Structure?
- The History of Tensile Structure
- Why Membrane Structure for Sport and Tra
- Structural Material for Tensile Structur
- Tensile Structures Introduction
- What is the Air-supported Structure
- Membrane Structure Materials - PVC, PTFE
- History of Tension Fabric Structures