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STATIC ANALYSIS FOR A TEMPORARY TENSILESTRUCTURE

DESIGNED FOR TRAVELLING SHOWS
Author: Andrea Angeleri, freelance

ABSTRACT
The construction is a prestressed 8-masts shaped membrane
structure, designed to be used for travelling shows (no permanent
installation allowed). Its realised by means of a pre-tensioned
single-skin membrane (divided in 10 sectors) supported in the
centre by an 8.5m diameter cupola, and sustained by 8 masts, and
tensioned at the perimeter by tied-down side posts. The
membrane is the waterproof covering element and transmits
loads to the structure (cupola + masts + up-winding cables) which
supports it. The tensioned structure is closed on the sideways by
side walls 5.0m tall. The Big Top has been calculated for
TEMPORARY use by adopting ASCE 7-10 wind loading
standards as the guideline for wind pressure calculations.

Covered surface: 2.820 m2 - Surface of membrane: 3.750 m2

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1. APPLIED STANDARDS
The standards to which we make reference
are the following:
Eurocode 3 - "Design of steel structures" ENV 1993-1-1.
EN 13782/05 - "Temporary structures Tents - Safety"
2004 TensiNet - The European Design Guide
for Tensile Surface Structures edited by Brian Forster, Marijke Mollaert.
CNR UNI 10011 / 88
Steel
constructions:
instructions
for
calculation, realisation, test and
maintenance.
Project of Italian norm UNI U50.00.299.0 11/96
Tents, tensile structures, air-supported
structures: instructions for
calculation, realisation, test, use and
maintenance.
DIN 4112 /83 Fligende Bauten
Temporary structures: instructions for
calculation and construction.
Eurocode 1 - Basi di calcolo ed azioni sulle
strutture UNI ENV 1991-2-4
Parte 2-4: Azioni sulle strutture - Azioni del
vento.
American Society of Civil Engineers - ASCE
07/10
Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and
Other Structures
2. MATERIALS
2.1. Membrane:
polyester fabric coated PVC - type 2
tensile strength w/w (N/5 cm): 4000/4000
(DIN 53354) = 80 / 80 kN/m
The membrane is simulated as an
orthotropic material i.e. a material that has
different properties and stiffness values in
each perpendicular directions. The assumed
material properties are the followings:
Young's modulus along warp direction = E1
= 600 daN/cm = 600 kN/m
Young's modulus along weft direction = E2
= 600 daN/cm = 600 kN/m
Shear Moduli = G12 = 35 daN/cm = 35 kN/m
Poisson's ratio 12 = 21= 0,5

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2.2 Nuts & bolts

Screw 8.8 (Fyk = 649.0 N/mm2), nuts S6;
galvanization required.
2.3 Cables
Type S10 - 216 threads 6x36 galvanized
Warrington Seale cables 6 x 36 + WR right
cross-shaped - UNI ISO 2408.
- CUPOLA SUSPENSION CABLES - S10
ZN diam.16mm (MBL = 192 kN)
- MAST RING SUSPENSION CABLES S10 ZN diam.18mm (MBL = 243 kN)
- MAST TIE-DOWN CABLES- S10 ZN
diam.16mm (MBL = 192 kN)
MAST
CONNECTING
CABLES
(diam.12mm S10ZN - MBL = 108 kN)

The membrane geometry has been shaped starting from the plan
and altimetric disposition agreed with the client using a graphic
interactive program of calculation which allows to investigate the
initial condition (status 0), realising a mathematical model and
imposing equilibrium to a system of trusses and nodes. The
structural model has been then analysed to find generated
stresses and deformations with the FEM method using the
software Straus7 (certified by STRAND7) with a non-linear static
analysis. The membrane is realised with a polyester fabric high
tenacity coated PVC type 2, reinforced in the top part to resist
local stress concentrations. The membrane joints have been
realised by means of welding presses with an high-frequency

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system which makes the material melt with an automatic control

system of power. Weldings are tested at 70 C, critic state of the
membrane exposed to sun radiations.

Per inviare un messaggio: hsh@iperv.it

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