Tensile Construction Still Relevant With Cable Reinforcement
Over the last several hundred years there have been many different changes in construction methods and materials, some having merely accepted moderations in existing applications, while others being replaced completely. Environmental concerns, safety issues, and affordability of both the materials and the buildings have prompted the bulk of these changes or replacements. But some have been able to retain their credibility with the use of modern technology.
Tensile construction is still a highly credible and useful building method, combining the use of modified fabrics and cables. Perhaps the most well known examples of this are buildings like Munich’s Olympic Stadium, or Denver’s International Airport. Teflon coated fiberglass and PVC coated polyester are two common fabric materials used in tensile construction. Strong woven fabrics that can be stretched or inflated are essential to withstanding both the cable reinforcement and environmental stress. Steel variant cables, including carbon or stainless, are twisted or bound together to make a bigger stronger cable. Tensile construction has been in practice since the late eighteen hundreds.
Tensile Construction
Pretension can be added to treated fabric roof shells to ensure additional stress defense by inducing pressure on the surface to stiffen it. Using cables to stretch the membrane will add initial pressure to the surface, changing its shape and increasing its rigidity.
Smaller tensile construction examples include tension bridges, spanning caverns or suspending above rivers. High-tensioned cables support the bridge material, giving it ability to support travel weight. Tensile strength is also most commonly considered in concrete construction, where rebar steel is embedded to add reinforcement stability.