Jan. 2008, Volume 2, No.1 (Serial No.

2)

Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, ISSN1934-7359, USA

FORM-finding and structural analysis of tensioned cable-membrane

roof supported by steel trusses and arches
TONG Li-ping, CHEN Zhi-ye
(College of Civil Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China)
Abstract: This paper uses the gymnasium of Yellow River
Conservancy Technical Institute as the study object to conduct a
form-finding and structural analysis of tensioned membrane roof
supported by steel trusses and arches. Through a form-finding
analysis, this paper tries to seek a structural form which will
meet the needs of architectural shape and function and match the
distribution of certain self-balance pre-stress. Meanwhile, in
order to study the stressing performances of tensioned
membrane structure and check whether the form-finding results
of the membrane meet the needs of structural bearing capacity
and serviceability, the paper uses a finite element analytical
program, ANSYS, to conduct a structural analysis of the
tensioned membrane structure. The authors of the paper
approach the stressing and deforming conditions of this
membrane and obtain some useful conclusions for engineering
designing, which will provide certain reference for other similar
projects.
Key words: tensioned membrane structure; combined boundary;
form-finding analysis

The form of a large-span space structure

increasingly takes on diversity and multiple tendencies
and the single structural form has many disadvantages,
such as low stressing capacity, weak economic value,
etc. However, mixed structures made of various
structural forms can play each of their own roles in
fully making use of their advantages in members and
material, which wins a welcome from architects. The
application of mixed structures can greatly improve
their entire bearing capacity so as to reach the goal of
building large-span structures and constructing light
shapes, which is a tendency of developing space
structures.
TONG Li-ping (1960- ), female, professor, Ph.D.; research
fields: large span, complex building structural system. E-mail:
tongliping@zzu.edu.cn.
28

Arch-cable membrane structures belong to mixed

space structure, which consist of tensioned
cable-membrane and arch supported structure to bear
external loads. This kind of structure can make it
possible to build variable roof forms and bear the
action load passing it as well. The arch supporting
system is the frame structure which supplies
continuous boundary for this cable-membrane
structure.
However, it is a key for roof form-finding to seek a
structural form which can meet the needs of building
forms and function and match self-equilibrium prestress
distribution. Using the gymnasium of Yellow River
Conservancy Technical Institute as an example, this
paper has made a form-finding analysis to determine the
space geometric shape of a cable-membrane structure
under given boundary conditions and corresponding
prestress distribution. Meanwhile, in the structure made
of arches and cables, it is difficult to satisfy the needs of
building shapes and structural bearing capacity because
of complex boundary conditions. In order to make the
structure light and beautiful in designing and keep
guard of the rationalization of structural bearing, this
paper adopts the method of non-linear finite element
and to conduct a structural analysis for the space
arch-cable membrane system.

1. Structural layout
The gymnasium adopts a new truss-arch-cable
membrane structure. The building is light and bright in
shape, original and creative, as shown in Fig. 1.

Form-finding and structural analysis of tensioned cable-membrane roof supported by steel trusses and arches

Fig. 1 The gymnasium

The roof consists of three parts. The faade is a

tensioned membrane roof, middle part is ground
steel-pipe arches and the back part is steel trusses. The
membrane roof consists of 12 pieces of quadrangular
membrane and 2 pieces of triangular tensioned
membrane. One side of the membrane joins the lower
arch and the other sides are supported by seven steel
rods, forming a regular wavy membrane roof like a
huge shell. The gymnasium not only takes on a
beautiful shape of architecture in outside appearance
but shows its structural mechanical properties with
light structure, unity of rhythm and variation. It is a
curved surface, floating and smooth with a tensioned
feeling in good harmony with the surroundings.
The main body of the gymnasium consists of
steel-pipe arches, steel trusses, tensioned cablemembrane, ground cables, bracing rods, etc.
Considering the architectural shape, the designer uses a
ground steel-pipe arch of 86.4m in span in the middle,
both ends of which are anchored to the ground,
constructing the main frame structure of the entire
structural system. The frame structure is composed of
two arches in different planes. The upper arch is
23.105m in arrow height and the lower one is 18.761m.
The upper and lower arches are connected by a series of
web members at their skew backs.
There are nine spatial steel trusses at the back of
the arch in symmetric distribution, one end supported
on the arch and the other on the annex. The top booms
and web members of steel trusses are steel pipes and
bottom booms are steel cables. Steel arches and steel
trusses make a stable membrane structural supporting

system as its own with simple structural form and clear

force path, which makes full use of stressing
performance of each member.
Cable-membrane system consists of thin
membrane, back cables, valley cables, side cables and
steel arches. It is a tensioned membrane structure with
rigid and flexible combined boundary. Back cables and
valley cables are in alternate arrangement with one side
connected to arches and the other anchored to side
cables, which support membrane roof and take on a
rolling form, transmitting wind and snow loads. The
height at the connection of front back cable and side
cable is 6.5m and the maximum span of the roof is
26.234m. The back of membrane is a rigid boundary
supported by lower arches; the frontage is a flexible
boundary. Inner force of membrane is collected to the
joint through side cables and then transmitted to the
foundation through ground cables. Steel bracing rods
are laid out at the joint of back cables and side cables so
as to change the direction of ground cables and reduce
the space occupied by the ground cables.

2. Form-finding of tensioned membrane

structure
Sing it merely presents the boundary conditions of
structure and the coordinates at some special points, the
beginning designing plan cannot give concrete
description of spatial membrane curves.
Through a form-finding analysis, this paper tries to
seek a structural form which will meet the needs of
architectural shape and function and match the
distribution of certain self-balance pre-stress, the
problem of the form-finding is how to determine the
spatial geometric shape and corresponding pre-stress
distribution of cable-membrane structure under certain
boundary conditions. In the analysis of form-finding, the
paper firstly makes the coordinate of each nodal point
with membrane structure in a plane and applies target
pre-stress; at the same time, makes the coordinates of
key nodal points, the boundary conditions of structural

29

Form-finding and structural analysis of tensioned cable-membrane roof supported by steel trusses and arches

target forms, making these key points produce support

displacement from plane coordinates to space target
coordinates and finally obtaining the space coordinates
of non-key nodal points, that is, the desired structural
forms.
2.1 Treatment of membrane boundary
The membrane boundary of structural system is
complex and it is a combination of two parts rigid
and flexible boundaries in the study of the paper.
In the membrane boundary joining the arches, the
shape of membrane surface boundary is just the shape of
the lower steel arch. The boundary is a rigid boundary
which doesnt change with membrane pre-stress and
plays a crucial role in determining membrane surface
shape. When doing form-finding analysis, the paper
neglects frictional influence and does not consider the
relative sliding between membranes and arches [1]. The
authors make a rigid connection between the steel arch
and membrane. The rigid boundary is discrete and all the
joints in the boundary lie in each target position, that is,
the corresponding coordinate of each point on the lower
steel arch.
The other sides of the membrane roof use side
steel cables as their boundaries which are flexible
boundaries. The inner force of the membrane is
transmitted to the joint through side cables and then to
the foundation through bracing rods and ground cables.
The shape of flexible boundary is not fixed,

Items

30

Basic conditions
Prestress change

Change prestress of
valley cable only

II

Change prestress of
back cable only

III

Change prestress of
side cable only

IV

Change prestress in
membrane only

so the position of a joint is very important. When

finding a form, it is necessary to change the position of
a joint, that is, the coordinate of bracing rods at a
bearing point of membrane, membrane pre-stress and
the pre-stress of boundary cables so as to obtain a shape
of the corresponding flexible boundary.
2.2 Determination of the value of
cable-membrane pretension
Cable-membrane pretension is an important
parameter for form-finding, closely related to
membrane and cable material. Pretension must keep
structure having sufficient stiffness to resist external
load as well as to prevent membrane surface from
producing relaxation and folding. This project adopts
class A PTFE membrane material. The elastic modulus
of cables is 1.8105 MPa and Poissons ratio is 0.3; the
elastic modulus of membrane is 800MPa, Poissons
ratio is 0.3 and thickness is 0.8mm. The value selection
of cable-membrane pretension is based on the
following two principles: 1) the pretension of
membrane structure is restricted within 7.5% of tension
limit strength of a single axis, in which a membrane is
4-8kN/m; 2) the pretension of a cable is 4-10% of
breakage limit strength, no bigger than 20%. This paper
takes into account each of the four conditions in
choosing pre-stress value in order to find forms for
membrane roof, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Values of pretension stress in four conditions

Combinat Pretension stress in Back cable stress
Side cable stress
ions
membrane(Mpa)
(Mpa)
(Mpa)

6.4
81
81

81

180
6.4
81

14
81

6.4
81
180

14

6.4
?
81
81
10
?
3.2

Valley cable stress

(Mpa)
108
180
14
108

108

108

Form-finding and structural analysis of tensioned cable-membrane roof supported by steel trusses and arches

2.3 Method and process of form-finding

The method of form-finding for membrane
structure in this paper is based on nonlinear finite
element theory and using support rise and temperature
action to apply initial pre-stress to the membrane to get
the desired forms of membrane structure [2].
The basic process of the analysis is as follows:
(1) Use the plane shape of cable-membrane
structure as initial state and move up several key nodal
points, cable-membrane boundary support points, to
target places so as to obtain an initial curved surface of
equilibrium by repeated calculation;
(2) Recover real elastic modulus of membrane,
conduct repeated calculation again and then apply
initial pre-stress to membrane structure through
temperature action so as to obtain new curved surface
of equilibrium by repeated calculation;
(3) Recover real elastic modulus of membrane and
apply real initial pre-stress to the membrane surface of
equilibrium obtained from step 2 through temperature
action. By repeated calculation, the authors finally get a
membrane curved surface of equilibrium with even
distribution of initial pre-stress which is just the final
form-finding target.
In process (1), cables and membrane take small
elastic modulus, for which this paper chose a real value
of 1/1000 for cables and 1/100 for membrane. The
purpose is to reduce the effect of displacement on
cable-membrane stress, making stress unchanged in

whole so as to keep the membrane curve surface as

equal stress surface after shape-forming.
In process (3), without the constraint of boundary,
taking equal temperature to change can produce even
temperature change. Therefore, changing temperature
can affect membrane structure in even temperature
action so as to apply prestress to the membrane.
2.4 Establish a model of finite element
The paper adopts the program of ANSYS to
conduct a calculation analysis, realizes the three
form-finding processes above and therefore gets a
target form.
Establish a model of finite element for tensioned
membrane structure as shown in Fig. 2. The cables and
membrane are both able to resist only tension rather
than pressure and both cable and membrane units adopt
small elastic modules. There are altogether 406 cable
units and 6076 membrane units for the finite element
model. In order to prevent the key points from
deviation in elevation, the authors in the paper apply a
three-dimensional constraint to the key points on the
model and also to the point on the rigid boundary at the
joint of steel arches and membrane.

Fig. 2 Model after grid division and constraint application

Table 2
Items

I
II
III
IV

Combi
nations

?
?

Comparison of form-finding with 12 prestress combinations in 4 conditions

First main stress in membrane
Back cable stress
Side cable stress
Valley cable stress
(Mpa)
(Mpa)
(Mpa)
(Mpa)
Stress
in
Min
Max
Min
Max
Min
Max
Min
Max
M ost part
7.62
10.7
8.6-9.3
88.2
227
150
192
104
116
7.62
10.7
8.3-9.4
88.8
226
150
192
176
189
7.62
10.8
8.3-9.4
87.4
227
149
191
15.3
34.3
7.62
10.7
8.6-9.3
88.2
227
150
192
104
116
7.75
10.7
8.4-9.4
178
283
156
193
105
120
7.69
10.8
8.4-9.4
34.9
190
147
192
105
115
7.62
10.7
8.6-9.3
88.2
227
150
192
104
116
7.74
10.7
8.4-9.4
89.3
228
213
253
104
113
7.6
10.7
8.3-9.3
87.9
226
110
150
104
117
7.62
10.7
8.6-9.3
88.2
227
150
192
104
116
12
16.5
13.5-14.5
89.2
318
200
262
103
121
3.8
5.4
4.2-4.7
81.5
142
106
126
106
120

31

Form-finding and structural analysis of tensioned cable-membrane roof supported by steel trusses and arches

2.5 Analysis of form-finding results

The paper has listed the form-finding results
membrane stress, valley stress, back stress and side
stress, with 12 types of prestress combinations in Table
2. From these results, it can be seen that all the shapes
of combined membrane are basically the same and the
outside appearance nearly meets the need of
architectural design forms and stress on the membrane,
which shows that the stress distribution on the
membrane is even.

3. Structural analysis of membrane roof

In order to study the stressing performances of
tensioned membrane structure and check whether the
form-finding results of the membrane meet the needs of
structural bearing capacity and serviceability, the paper
uses a finite element analytical program, ANSYS, to
conduct a structural analysis of the tensioned
membrane structure[3].
3.1 Analytic model
Since the structural forms and structural material
used in the gymnasium roof are different and the
members are not fixed in the same plane to cause
strong space action, the paper uses the method of real
model building to analyze the three-dimensional space
models for the whole structure.
The paper adopts structural parameters and
models as follows: (1) Steel-pipe arches, steel frame
top booms, links, web members of steel frames and
arches as well as brace rods all adopt compound
stressing units in tension, pressure, bending, shearing
and distortion. There are 1340 units in all; (2) The
cables of steel-frame bottom booms, back cables,
valley cables and side cables on the membrane as well
as the cable for stability all use the unit of Tension-only
Spar and there are 766 units in all; (3) The membrane
adopts shell elements which can only resist tension and
there are 6076 units in all. The entire structure is
classified into 8182 units and 6242 joints. The
calculation model is shown in Fig. 3.
32

Fig. 3 Calculation model of finite elements

3.2 Treatment of boundary conditions

The system discussed in this paper is a compound
crossing structural system , boundary conditions of the
structure are also very complex. In establishing the
model of finite elements, the paper carries out the
treatments with the boundary conditions as follows:
(1) The connection of skewback and ground is
considered as consolidation; (2) Steel trusses between
arches and lower reinforced concrete frame are
supported on the reinforced concrete frame and their
connection is considered as spatial spherical
articulation while on the end connected to arches, the
joints are considered as rigid connection since they
uses the form of welding between each other; (3) The
boundary of tensioned membrane is a kind of mixed
boundary, including rigid boundary and flexible one.
As the shape of an arch determines the shape of
boundary of membrane, the arch is the rigid boundary
of membrane. The other boundaries of membrane are
flexible ones and these boundaries collect inner force
of membrane surface at a joint through side cables and
then pass the force to the foundation through brace
members, diagonal ties, etc. When membrane surface
bears loads, especially wind load, the joint of
membrane surface is allowed to have greater
deformation, and the diagonal ties and brace members
connected to the joints of membrane boundaries also
bring about some corresponding deformation and
displacement so as to prevent the brace members and
diagonal ties from producing greater inner force.
Therefore, the connection between diagonal ties and
the ground is considered as articulation.

Form-finding and structural analysis of tensioned cable-membrane roof supported by steel trusses and arches

3.3 Design loads

There is a big difference between membrane
structure and traditional one in load value and control
factors. Through calculation analysis, the membrane
structure is very sensitive to wind load and easy to lead
to greater deformation.
(1) Dead load: self-weight of membrane and steel
structural members.
(2) Pre-tension: determined by form-finding
analysis. Pre-tension joins all the load combinations.
(3) Wind load: get the value in terms of a
recurrence interval of 50 years.
(4) Snow load: calculated in terms of equivalent
plane area. In this case, the minimum nominal angle of
membrane is some 22.8 after form-finding, so the
snow load can be neglected, but the snow coefficient is
still collected in 0.5 to simulate the influence of snow
on membrane surface. Steel structure is considered
according to conventional theories.
(5) Load combinations of membrane structure:
Dead load + pretension;
Dead load + pretension + wind load in X
direction (wind increase);
Dead load + pretension + wind load in Y
direction (wind increase);
Dead load + pretension + snow load.
3.4 Analytic method
The structural analysis used in this paper is a
nonlinear finite element method [4]. Choose the method
of Newton-Raphson to carry out the analysis and
repeated calculation in terms of force convergence
principle and displacement convergence principle as
well. In order to speed up the convergence of
calculation in speed and extent, the paper adopts the
method of increasing loads and iteration times at each
stage.
The basic procedure is:
(1) Determine the points of plotting position on
the boundaries of steel trusses, arches and cable
membrane, and from the form-finding result get the
pretension and the shape of membrane surface;

(2) Determine the units of the members of discrete

steel structure;
(3) Apply all sorts of loads and make load
combination;
(4) Conduct a nonlinear analysis for steel trusses,
arches and cable-membrane structure on the whole and
determine the inner force and deformation of all
structural members;
(5) Judge the reliability of form-finding results,
and at the same time, check main parts of the structure
in stressing and deformation.
3.5 Analytic results
Table 3 Maximum stress and total displacement
on the membrane
The maximum 1st main stress
11.60
(kN/m2) s 1
Combination The maximum 2nd main stress
9.06

(kN/m2) s 2
The maximum vertical
10.2
displacement U (mm)
The maximum 1st main stress
19.80
(kN/m2) s 1
Combination The maximum 2nd main stress
12.50

(kN/m2) s 2
The maximum vertical
110.1
displacement U (mm)
The maximum 1st main stress
19.50
(kN/m2) s 1
Combination The maximum 2nd main stress
12.60

(kN/m2) s 2
The maximum vertical
116.3
displacement U (mm)
The maximum 1st main stress
12.60
(kN/m2) s 1
Combination The maximum 2nd main stress
9.47

(kN/m2) s 2
The maximum vertical
52.1
displacement U (mm)

(1) Stress and deformation of membrane

It is known from analysis of calculation results
that, under the action of all combinations of loads, the
stress on the membrane is distributed as follows: there
is a limit of stress occurring near the flexible boundary
and when the external load acts downwards, there is the
minimum value while it takes on the maximum value
under the action of wind increase. There is a stress
concentration in the joint area formed by back cables,
valley cables and side cables. The deformation
33

Form-finding and structural analysis of tensioned cable-membrane roof supported by steel trusses and arches

distribution law of membrane is as follows: the

maximum deformation always happens in the middle
area of membrane and tends to be smaller outwards.
Particularly, approaching flexible boundary, there is
deformation happening just opposite that of the middle
part. Table 3 shows the maximum main stress and
displacement of membrane under four load
combinations.
It can be seen from Table. 3 that, under the action of
four combinations, there is the maximum stress on
membrane in the case of wind load such as in the
combinations and and so is there the deformation
value, which further proves that wind load is a main
factor to influence membrane structure. However,
according to the results of calculation and analysis, the
main stress is all s 1 >0, s 2 >0 on the membrane surface[5]
under the action of all sorts of load combinations, so
members always work well without folding.
(2) Cables and bracing members
Under the action of all the load combinations, the
stress condition in cables can be seen in Table 4. From
the data in the table, it can be found out that under the
action of short-term loads combinations and
in case of wind increase, the stress of back cable units
takes on obvious degradation, but it satisfies the
requirement of bearing capacity without relaxation.
Table 4 Stress on the cables in load combinations
Cable stress on
Diagonal cable
Load
membrane (MPa)
stress (MPa)
combinations
Max
Min
Max
Min

137
3.34
150
55.1

524
Nearly 0
354
4.6

507
Nearly 0
343
Nearly 0

363
3.1
211
54.2

Since there are rigid bracing members at the joint

between back and side cables which confine the
displacement of membrane near the joint, the stress and
displacement on membrane surface are reduced on the
flexible boundary of the membrane, and furthermore,
there is a reversed displacement happening in some
areas. The big deformation in flexible membrane

34

causes some membrane units and cable units to

produce stress degradation, the initial stress of cables
having obvious damage. At the joint of back cables and
side cables, there is clear stress degradation happening
in the case of wind increase, which leads to the
reduction of stress in the local area close to the joint.
Therefore, in this part, the connection between cables
and between cables and bracing members must be
reliable, and the construction requires that membrane,
bracing members and steel cables be in a coordinate
displacement so as to keep an effective connection.

4. Conclusion
Tensioned membrane structure for the
gymnasium of Yellow River Conservancy Technical
Institute is a body of space trusses, large arch trusses
and cable membrane with a complex structural system
and unique construction form. Through form-finding
and structural analysis, the paper gives the conclusions
as follows:
(1) The displacement caused by support elevation
has a crucial effect on the membrane shape. In support
elevation, the rigid boundary is first in segregation and
then all the joints are elevated up to each of their target
positions so that the membrane shape on the rigid
boundary obtained from the form-finding results can be
smooth and continuous without malformation,
according with practical construction.
(2) The value of initial pretension and pre-stress in
membrane and cables is within the sensible scope of
choice. The ratio of values of pretension and pre-stress
between membrane and cables and that between all
sorts of cables have a little influence on the final shape
of membrane and the obtained stress in the membrane
is almost evenly distributed.
(3) Under the action of all load combinations, the
maximum stress in membrane is far smaller than the limit
stress in the chosen membrane, which indicates that the
form-finding results satisfy the requirements of design
and construction, safe and reliable, practical and effective.

Form-finding and structural analysis of tensioned cable-membrane roof supported by steel trusses and arches

(4) The major deformation of flexible membrane

structure causes stress on membrane and cable units to
drop. Particularly in the action of wind increase, there
is obvious damage in back cable stress. In the case of
bracing members, the cable units close to the bracing
members can play a great role in resisting wind load.
Therefore, we should apply larger pre-stress in design
to reduce the influence of cable stress deterioration on
structure. Meanwhile, in the part of flexible boundary,
the connection between cables and that between cables
and bracing members must be reliable, and
construction requires that membrane be coordinate
with bracing members and steel cables in displacement
so as to keep an effective connection.
(5) The frame system of steel-pipe arches and
steel trusses in stressing satisfies the needs of bearing
capacity and the whole deformation is up to the
requirements of structural building forms, which
embodies the advantages of practical use and safety.

(6) The stressing and deformation are bigger at the

connection of side cables and steel arches on both right
and left sides of the membrane, so lateral stability is not
satisfying, for which the authors suggest adding lateral
brace rods, web members between arches, etc.
References:
[1] HUANG Qun, GAN Fu-ling, SHU Hong-ming.
Membrane structural design and analysis of membrane
connection for the gymnasium of Zhejiang Industrial
University. Steel Structure, 2005, (2): 37-40.
[2] Agrgyris J H.A. General method for the shape finding of
lightweight tension structures. Computer Methods in
Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 1973, 3: 135-149.
[3] WANG Hui. Analysis of nonlinear finite elements for
membrane structure. Master thesis. Tianjin: Tianjin
University. (in Chinese)
[4] CHEN Jing-yi, CAI Guo-zhong. Guidance of ANSYS of
Computer Supplementary Engineering Analysis. Beijing:
Press of China Railway, China, 2001.
[5] XIANG Yang, SHEN Shi-zhao. Analysis of static
properties for thin membrane structure. Space Structure,
1998, 4(1).

(Edited by Markus, Engles, Marissa)

35