Fabric structures use engineered fibers to provide aesthetic, free-form building designs. They are custom-made to meet structural, fire, weather, and force standards worldwide. Fabric structures fall under the category of tensile structures. Their material selection, design, engineering, fabrication, and installation work together to ensure safety. The material choice is especially important for tensile structures, as both the membrane and frame carry loads. Common tensile structure shapes include mast-supported, point-supported, arch-supported, and frame-supported configurations. Materials range from polyesters to PTFE and ETFE foil. Selection depends on properties like strength, weight, coatings, stability, and lifespan.

1. TENSILE STRUCTURES

2. • Fabric structures are forms of constructed fibers that provide
end users a variety of aesthetic free- form building designs.
• custom-made fabric structures are engineered and fabricated to
meet worldwide structural, flame retardant, weather-resistant,
and natural force requirements.
• Fabric structures are considered a sub-category of tensile
structure.
• A fabric structure’s material selection, proper design,
engineering, fabrication and installation all work together to
ensure a sound structure.
• The material’s role in the structure’s performance makes the
selection process especially important. this is particularly true
with tensile and air-supported structures because their
membranes, as well as their frames, carry the loads.

3. Common Shapes and Forms:
• Mast supported
• Point supported
• Arch supported
• Frame supported
• Simple saddle

4. Mast-supported
Systems –Tent like
structures in form
• One or several peaks
supported by central
poles and perimeter
cables
• Typically use
compression ring or
“bale” ring
Point-supported
•Clear span avoids a center mast
Often hypar shaped (two high, two low connection
points)
•Utilizes an exterior frame or series of peripheral masts

5. Arch-supported
Introducing a curved compression member Cross arches
often used
Frame supported
Spaceframe
Fabricattachedtoastructuralframe
Structuralcomponentscarryforces Fabric
ispurelyusedasacladding

6. Simple
Saddle/Hypar
•Double curvature
•Two high points,
Two Low points
•“Saddle” shape
Horizontal or Vertical
Minimal surfaces

7. Polyesters
Vinyl-coated polyester
Vinyl-laminated polyesters
Fiberglass
PTFE-coated fiberglass
Woven PTFE
ETFE foil

8. • strip tensile strength
• grab tensile strength
• trapezoidal tear strength
• tongue tear strength
• adhesion strength
• flame resistance
• finished weight
• base fabric weight
• available topcoatings
• resistance to cold cracking
• dead load
• structural properties
• life expectancy

9. •Shading coefficients
•General solar, optical, thermal performance data
•Acoustical data
•Dimensional stability
• Colorfastness
•Cleanability
•Seam strength and stability
•Construction method
• General handling ability, including abrasion
resistance, foldability, etc.

11. FABRIC TENSILE CAR PARKING STRUCTURE

12. COVERD TENSILE CAR PARKING STRUCTURE

13. POLE BASED TENSILE CAR PARKING STRUCTURE