PNEUMATIC

STRUCTURES

BY- HARSHI GARG

4B
SUSHANTSCHOOLOFART
ANDARCHITECTURE 1
 INTRODUCTION
• Pneumatic structure is a membrane which carries load developed from the tensilestresses.

• Its stabilization is done by pre- stressing the membrane either by

- Applying an external force which pulls the membrane
- Internal pressurizing if the membrane is volumeenclosing.

Such structures are called “pneumatic structures”.

•These structures can create artificial
environments adaptable to human use.

•The pneumatic forms are bound to increase in

popularity, owing to the tremendous freedom
they provide to the architects in designing large
free spaces within them.

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 TYPES
AIR SUPPORTED STRUCTURES AIR INFLATED STRUCTURES
It consist of a single membrane which is supportedby It is supported by pressurized air contained within inflated
a small internal pressure difference. The internal building element. The pressurized air in the pillow serves
volume of a building air is consequently at a pressure only to stabilizing the load carrying membrane. The
higher than atmospheric. covered space is not pressurized.
• Air locks or revolving doors help to maintain the •Supporting frames consist of air under highpressure.
internal pressure. •Internal pressure of building remains at atmospheric
• Air must be constantly provided. pressure.
• Life span of 20 – 25 years. • There is no restrictions in number and size of openings.
• Relatively low cost. •It has the ability to support itself.
• They are either anchored to the ground or to a wall
•They have potential to support an attachedstructure.
so that leakage is prevented.
• They have relative low cost and they can beinstalled
easily.

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 LOADING

•Wind and Snow loads are the primary loads that are acting on • Wind loads produce a lateral force on the structures and
pneumatic structures. snow load causes downward forces on envelope.
•They are anchored very tight to the ground, so no horizontal • Pneumatic structures are designed to withstand wind
forces are exerted to the envelope.
load of 120 mph and a snow load of 40pounds/yard
• As pneumatic structures are tensile, the envelope has the
ability to gain stiffness in order to withstand the loads acting on
them.

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SIMRANSAINI
ANDARCHITECTURE VANSHAJPARUTHI
4
 CHARACTERISTICS
LIGHT-WEIGHT ECONOMY
•The weight of the structure as compared to the area it •It is not expensive when it is used as temporary
covers is very less.
•The weight of the membrane roof, even when it is structures.
stiffened by cables, is very small.
QUICK ERECTION & DISMANTLING
•Low air pressure is sufficient to balanceit. • Suitable for temporary constructions.
• 1 km2 area can be brought down in 6 hours and canbe
SPAN
establish in less than 10hours.
•There is no theoretical maximum span.
• To span a distance of 36 km for a normal building is hard
while such spans are quite possible for pneumatics.
GOOD NATURALLIGHTING
•If envelope is made up oftransparent material, good
natural light enter into the structure.
SAFETY
•Around 50% – 80% of sunlight can beobtained.
•Pneumatic structures are safer than any other structure.
Otherwise, a proper care should be taken while
establishing.
• They are fire resistance structures.

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 METERIALS USEDFORENVELOPE
NYLON
•Vinyl-coated nylon has more strength, durability and stretch than
polyester. ETFE(ETHYLENE
•They have a higher cost. TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE
•It is very energy efficient
because of transparency,
insulation and UVresistance.
FIBERGLASS •It is also light weighthas an
• They high tensile strength, elastic behavior anddurability. lifespan on 20 years and is
•Coated with Teflon or silicone to increase resistance to extreme recyclable.
temperatures and UV radiation.
POLYESTER
•Most common envelope
material for smallerstructures.
•PVC-coated polyester is
common for flexible, smallerair-
supported structures.
•The PVCis applied to the
polyester using a bonding or
adhesive agent.

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ADVANTAGES
• Light weight
• Covers large spans without internal supports
• Rapid assembly and have low initial and operating cost
• Portability

DISADVANTAGES
• Need for continuous maintenance of excess pressure in the envelope
• Relatively short service life
• Continuous operation of fans to maintainpressure
• Cannot reach the insulation values of hard-walledstructures

APPLICATIONS
• MILITARYSTRUCTURES.
• EXHIBITIONS AND CONVENTIONCENTRES.
• SPORTSAND RECREATIONALCENTRES
• STRUCTURESFORBOTANICAL, ZOOLOGICALGARDENS.

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 NATIONAL SPACECENTER
LEICESTER,ENGLAND.

Begun: Mar 1999

Completed: 2001
Floor area: 7,600m2
Sectors: Education, Sports and
leisure.
Total cost: £1.8M
Address: Exploration Drive,
Leicester, UK.

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 ELEMENTS
The design comprises three principal elements: a main podium, an annexed rocket tower and a
prefabricated Challenger Learning Centre. Together, these elements form an exhibition venue of
international standing and a new centre of excellence for education and research affiliated to the
University of Leicester.

The podium is a double-height space (6m high) built on a

lightweight 14m-grid steel frame. It is capable ofaccommodating
a flexible arrangement of exhibition display systems as well as the
full integration of structure and service zones. It has been created
as a 5,000m² square-plan structure in the renovated shell of the
disused storm-water tank.
The podium is ‘wrapped’ in a double skin, comprising an inner
wall of fenestration and silver sinusoidal steel cladding with a
homogenous outer screen ofperforated stainless steel panels.
In practical terms, this affords privacy to offices and facilitates
the optimum environment for the safe display of sensitive
artIfacts.
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 STRUCTURE

The main exhibition hall provides a flexibly arranged, double-height volume and, along with the
education areas, is economically sited in a renovated storm-water tank. Wrapped in an outer
layer of perforated metal that unites the building from afar, the varied opacity of the cladding
reveals itself on approach to thecentre.

The geodesic dome of the planetarium is the apex of the roof’s spiralling geometry. It perforates
the concrete roof slab and acts as a foil to the soaring verticaltower.

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 TOWER

Nicholas Grim Shaw and Arup

engineers designed the National
Space Centre in Leicester UK.
Minimal Aluminum structure is
covered by three EFTE layers. The
cushy pillows are transparent to
showcase the larger than life
rockets inside. A structural spine of
steel frame in the back holds it all
together.

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 TOWER

Completed in 2001, the light structure soars

140ft. Each rib extends 20m and is spaced at
3m high. Old water storage tanks provide an
opportunity for the stainless steel spine to
continue underground, preventing water
from the nearby river from seeping in. These
tanks had 20,000m2 of mud removed to
make this possible, part of the reclamation
plan of a sewage plant brownfield.

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 TOWER

Its cladding of ETFE pillows clearly signalsthe

building’s presence from afar; at night its
illuminated form suggests the grandeur and
excitement of space travel.

The tower was a serious learning experience

covering issues such as heat loss / heat gain,
insulation, solar protection, wind chill
factors, skin reflectivity and absorption,rain
screen and weather protection, energy
generation by solar cells,etc.

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 DOME

This huge geodesic dome (20.5m) perforates

the roof slab at the centre of the exhibition
space, acting as a foil to the soaring vertical
form of the Rocket Tower. The tower hasbeen
designed as a showcase for high-profile
international exhibits, most notably the‘Blue
Streak’ F16 and Thor Abel rockets. Its volume
has been defined by the dimensions of these
exhibits, with its highest point (42m)
proportionate to that of the largest rocket
installed (26m).

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 DURING CONSTRUCTION

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 ASSIGNMENT-9

SUSHANTSCHOOLOFART
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THE EDEN PROJECT

BY- HARSHI G. | RAGHAVV G.| KARTIK M.

4B
INTRODUCTION

The Eden Project, situated in Cornwall– southern west tip of England, is the world’s
largest green house and was open to public in 2001. The complex encompasses a series
of domes which have plant species from all around the world, with each dome
emulating a natural biome.
 INTRODUCTION
Client: The Eden Project
Size: 23,000 sq.m / 247,480 sq. ft

Completion: March 2001

Cost: £ 160 millions / $ 239 millions

Structural Engineer: Anthony Hunt Associates

Services Engineer: Arup

Cost Consultant: Davis Langdon and Everest

Main Contractor: McAlpine Joint Venture

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The complex consists of:

• Entrance and the visitor centre

• Humid topic Biome (HTB)

• Warm Temperature Biome

(WTB)

• The Link
The Complex

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 STRUCTURAL CONCEPT

Geodesic Dome
• Geodesic Dome is a spherical space
frame which transfers the loads to its
support by a network of linear
elements arranged in a spherical dome.

• All the members in the geodesic dome

are in direct stress (tension or
compression).

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 STRUCTURAL CONCEPT

Geodesic Dome

• The geodesic dome is developed by

dividing platonic polyhedrons.

• The loads are transferred to the

support points by axial forces (tension
and compression) in the frame
members.

SUSHANTSCHOOLOFART
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 The Eden Biomes
• The layout of the project was based
on significant criteria like column
free space, maximum sunlight
intake, optimum volume for
required function and visual
appearance.

The geodesic domes fulfilled all

these criteria and were also best
suited to fit the structure on the
undulated site surface.

SUSHANTSCHOOLOFART
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 The Eden Biomes

• The primary design for the project was

single layered domes. But some
preliminary studies showed that the single
layered structures of the given project
dimensions would be uneconomical and
also had large deformations.

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• The structural network of a dome
consists of two concentric spherical
networks with a radius difference
between them.

• This radius difference is connected by

diagonal struts thus creating a
dual layered three dimensional
load carrying network.

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• The external face consists of hexagons and pentagons whereas the internal
one is made up of hexagons and triangles.

• The external layer is referred as “Hex‐ Net” and the internal is the “Tri‐ Hex‐Net”.

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• The Tri‐Hex Net shows similarity with the molecular structure of silicates, which
exhibits the characters of minimal path and minimal material consumption.

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To have a continuous column free space, the series of geodesic domes are
connected by a truss at their intersection. The trusses transfer the load to
their foundation. The domes also partly transfer the load to the strip
foundation along its perimeter.
The external skin is made of ETFE triple layered pillow filled with air
pressure. They act as good insulators and optimizes the light penetration.
Structural Components
 ETFE

•Ethylene Tetra- Fluoro- Ethylene

•Trade name “Tefzel”
•High corrosive resistance
•Three times larger load carrying capacity.
•Compared to glass, ETFE is 1% the weight.
•Transmits more light
•Installation cost reduced by 20% to 70%
•Self cleaning and recyclable
•Ability to stretch to three times its length
without loss of elasticity

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HEX-NET
• Grid consists of series of hexagons and pentagons

• Rigid connections through bowl nodes

• Maximum grid span is 11 m, member size is 193 mm dia

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 TRI-HEX NET

• Single layer domes are

restricted to a span of
approximately 100 ft. (30m).

• Domes greater than this span

employ a double layer space
frame configuration for greater
stability and rigidity.

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CONNECTORS
The Bowl node:

• Rigid connection for the Hex Net

members.
• Hinged connections for the Tri-Hex Net
members.

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 CONNECTORS

• Hinged connections for Tri- Hex Net layer.

• Foundation connectors for the Hex Net and Tri-Hex Net Membrane

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 TRUSS

The Hex‐net and tri‐hex‐net of the domes

meet the top chord and the bottom chord
of the triangular truss.

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LOAD PATH DIAGRAM
truss
LOAD PATH DIAGRAM
LOAD PATH DIAGRAM
LOAD PATH DIAGRAM
LOAD PATH DIAGRAM
LOAD PATH DIAGRAM

strip foundation

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STRUCTURAL INFORMATION
• Total surface: 39.540 m2

• Total steel weight: 700 tons

• Total length off all beams: 36000 m

• Steel weight per surface less than: 24 kg/m2

• Biggest hexagon area: 80 sq. m at a span of 11 m Biggest dome diameter

(dome B): 125 m

• Column free area: 15590 m2 WTB and 6540 m2 for HTB

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Soap Bubble Exercise