PNEUMATIC BCT - VI

STRUCTURES
 INTRODUCTION
 Membrane structure that is stabilized by
the pressure of compressed air
 Pressure difference between the enclosed space and the exterior
are responsible for giving the building its shape and its stability.

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 HISTORY AND EVOLUTION
 The first experiments were
undertaken during the
development of hot air
balloons.
 Brazilian priest Bartolomeu de
Gusmão, in Lisbon, in 1709.
 The Montgolfier brothers built
an 11m diameter hot air
balloon, made by linen and
paper.  During the Word War II, and after  Achieved the construction
the invention of nylon, of a 15m dia. pneumatic
 The idea of transposing the pneumatics started to be used in dome, the prototype for a
dirigibles technology to military operations, as emergency
architecture tracks back to the shelters and decoys.
series of large “radomes”
engineer F. W. Lanchester. His
patent of a pneumatic system  Increase in the number of military
for campaign hospitals was air operations demanded
approved in England, in 1918, implementation of a large and
but was never actually sophisticated network of radars,
constructed, due to the lack of by Walter Bird, to develop thin
adequate membrane materials non-metallic shelters, avoiding
or appeal to possible clients. interference with the radar signals

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 EVOLUTION ( CONTINUED ….)
 Frei Otto : first to undertake
 “Utopie”
academic investigations, reinterpreted the
specially about the process of aesthetic of
form finding pneumatic
 Pneumatics were also part of the structures, using
repertoire of Richard them as form of
Buckminster Fuller. His proposal social
of a pneumatic dome to cover expression,
New York (1962, is a famous related to
buoyancy,
example of Utopian pneumatic
ephemerality
architecture. and mobility, in
 Soon, temporariness was added contrast to the
as a feature. inertia of the
postwar
European
society

American pavilion, Osaka

Atom for peace pavilion Fuji pavilion FIRST UP 4
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 CHARACTERISTICS PRINCIPLES EXAMPLES

 The pressure should be uniformly  Round in shape because it creates 1. America Football
2. Sports hall
distributed for structural integrity greatest volume for least amount of
3. Military Radar
 Air locks are required at entrances to material Station
prevent loss of internal air pressure  Use of relatively thin membrane 4. Minnesota
 Pneumatic structures are cost-effective supported by pressure difference Metrodome
type of building for very long spans  Dead weight increases by increasing the 5. Inflatable
  Pre stressing of membrane can be done internal pressure and the membrane is Teahouse , Japan
either by applying external force or by stressed so that no asymmetrical loading 6. Air Forest mass
internal pressurizing occurs studio, Japan
7. Allianz Arena,
 Are attempted to make quickly for  Membrane can support both tension and
Munich
temporary purposes compression and thus withstand bending
moment

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CONSULTANTS
 APPLICATIONS

MILITARY STRUCTURES STRUCTURES FOR BOTANICAL

For storage, for emergency medical
GARDENS, ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS,
operations & To protect radar stations
from weather conditions
GREENHOUSE, HOTHOUSE

SPORTS & RECREATIONAL

CENTRES
Ability to span great distances without EXHIBITION & CONVENTION TRAVERSING BRIDGE FIRST UP
beams and columns.
CENTRES STRUCTURES CONSULTANTS 6
Light weight Need for continuous maintenance of
excess pressure in the envelope.
Covers large spans without supports
like columns Relatively short service life

Rapid assembly and have low initial Continuous operation of fans to

and operating cost maintain pressure

Portability Cannot reach the insulation values of

hard – walled structures.
Clean
Lack precision controls
Safe and easy to operate
Sensitive to vibrations
At many times, immense natural light
is fetched in Loud and noisy

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CONSTRUCTION ISSUES
 Stability
 Weather Condition
 Continuous distribution of pressure in Spans
 Limitation in Height
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SYSTEM, STRUCTURE, FORCES AND LOADING
 Internal air pressure, wind and snow loads are the
primary loads that are active on a pneumatic
structure.
 In addition, pneumatic structures are tensile; the
stretched envelope of the structure has the ability
to gain sufficient stiffness in order to withstand the
loads that are acting on the structure.
 The internal air pressure that is present in the
structure exerts a load that that goes upwards and
Typical Loads for an Air-Supported Structure towards the envelope. This load is counteracted by
the anchoring system which transfers the load to
the ground (tensile forces), that has to be tight,
there are no horizontal forces that can be exerted
to the envelope.
 The internal air pressure has to be maintained at an
equal or greater level than the wind loads, which
exert a lateral force on the envelope. The snow
loads exert a downward force on the envelope-the
round shape of the pneumatic structures prevents
snow loads.
Typical Loads for an Air-Inflated Structure

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 Pneumatic structure

Types of Types of
Types of pressure Types of surface
differential proportions
curvatures
pressure

+ve pressure -ve pressure Columna Balloons/

Doubly Doubly r/ mast/ Cushions balls /
Singly curved in curved in tubes/ / lenses spheres /
curved same different towers bubbles
Curved direction direction
Curved
downward
upwards
s

Low High
pressure pressure

Air – supported Air – inflated

system systems

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 AIR SUPPORTED SYSTEM
• They have air higher than the atmospheric
pressure supporting the envelope
• Air locks or revolving doors help to maintain
the internal pressure
• Air must be constantly provided
• Life span of 20 – 25 years
• They are either anchored to the ground or to
a wall so that leakage is prevented
•  They have relative low cost and they can be
installed easily
AIR INFLATED SYSTEM
• It is supported by pressurized air contained
within inflated building element. The
pressurized air in the pillow serves only to
stabilizing the load carrying membrane. The
covered space is not pressurized. They have
the ability to self- support.
• Supporting frames consists of air under high
pressure
• Internal pressure of building remains at
atmospheric pressure
• There is no restrictions in number and sizes
of openings
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CONSULTANTS
 T
TWO – STAGE SYSTEM A CLOSED SYSTEM Y
P
 Pneumatic system utilizes air or gas  The tires on your car operate by use of E
pressure to operate objects that require air pressure.
a large amt of power in a small space. S
 Though not a system unto itself, tires get
 Most pneumatic systems consist of two filled with air by an air compressor, a
stages : Air storage and Air operation. O
pneumatic system.
 Storing air requires a system to
F
 A small motor builds up air pressure in
maintain pressures greater than the air storage unit that you release when you fit
passing through the system for use. the nozzle of the air hose onto the valve A
 A leak anywhere in the system makes a of the tire and press the lever. I
pneumatic system unusable.  Pneumatic systems require a closed R
 A pneumatic system requires the system to function properly.
constant delivery of air at a set pressure  If the nozzle does not fit securely onto I
identified by a static air pressure gauge the tire valve, the tire does not get filled
or a portable one you fit over a valve.
N
with air. F
L
A
T
E
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Positive curved Negative curved Types of surface C
pneumatic pneumatic curvatures L
structure structure  Doubly curved in
 Also called  Membrane is the same direction A
upward curved inward curved are also called
structure Synclastics ( fig. 1) S
 These structures
 The membrane is are prone to water  Doubly curved in 1 S
always curved logging & snow the different
outwards accumulation direction are also
called Anticlastics
I
 Easy to build and  These structures
lesser require more ( fig.2 ) F
maintenances supports at the
edges or in the
 Dodecoid is also a
newer and modern
I
 Can be made for centre, leading to way of pneumatic
temporary more costlier structure (fig.4)
2 C
purposes business
A
T
I
O
4 N
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 SYSTEM COMPONENTS
ENVELOPE ENTRANCE
 They can be made up of different  Doors can be ordinary
 materials. doors or airlocks.
 Cannot be used as one  Airlock minimize the
continuous material. chances of having an
 Material are seamed together by unevenly pressurized
sealing, heat bonding or environment.
mechanical jointing.
 The design of the envelope depends
on an evenly pressurized env.

CABLE SYSTEM PUMPING EQUIPMENT

 They act as the supporting system.
 They experience tension force due to
 the upward force of the air.
 Can be placed in one or two directions
to create a network and for better
stability.
 They do not fail since they are
pulled tight enough to absorb the
external loads.
 It is used to supply and maintain
internal pressure inside the structure.
 Fans, blowers or compressors are
used for constant supply of air.
 The amount of air required depends on
the weight of the material and the wind
pressure.
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 SYSTEM COMPONENTS
FOUNDATION
 Pneumatic structures are secured to
ground using heavy weights, ground
anchors or attached to a foundation.
 Weight of the material and the wind
loads are used to
 determine the most appropriate
anchoring system.
 For bigger structures, reinforcing
cables or nets are used.
 For a dependent pneumatic structure
(roof only air supported structure) the
envelope is anchored to the main
structure.
 When anchoring is done to soil, the
cable is attached to the anchor directly
inserted and frictional forces of the soil to
hold it down.
 Soil anchoring systems include screw,
disk, expanding
 duckbill and arrowhead anchors.
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CONSULTANTS
 MATERIALS:
ISOTROPIC ANISOTROPIC
 These show the same  These do not show the same
strength and stretch in all Strength and stretch-ability in
directions all directions. Anisotropic
materials synthetic rubbers
 Examples are:- gridded fabric plastics
Plastic films :These are  Woven fabrics:
primarily produced from PVC,
Poly-ethylene, polyester, 1. Organic fibres eg:- wool,
polyamide etc. cotton or silk.

rubber membrane :  They 2. Mineral fibres eg:- glass

are the lightest and most fibres
flexible 3. Metal fibres eg:- thin steel
fabrics : These may be wires. . Synthetic fibres eg:-
made of glass fibers or polyamide, polyester and
synthetic Fibers which are poly-vinyl  
coated in a PVC, polyester or  Synthetic rubbers:-
Poly-urethene film combination of plastic and
metal foils : They possess a rubber. They can take better
very high gas diffusion wear and tear
resistance and high tensile  Plastics : more tensile strength
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 ENVELOPE MATERIALS
 Materials used for air-supported structures are similar to those used in tensile
structures
 coated with polymers such as PVC and Teflon
 Materials used in modern structures are usually translucent, so the use of lighting is decreased
FIBERGLASS ETFE
 They high tensile strength, elastic (ETHYLENE
behavior and durability. TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE)
 Coated with Teflon or silicone to
increase resistance to extreme  It is very energy efficient
temperatures and UV radiation. because of transparency,
insulation and UV resistance.
 It is also light weight has an
POLYESTER lifespan on 20 years and is
 Most common envelope material recyclable.
for smaller structures.
 PVC-coated polyester is common
for flexible, smaller air-supported NYLON
structures.  Vinyl-coated nylon has more
 The PVC is applied to the strength, durability and stretch
polyester using a bonding or than polyester.
adhesive agent.  They have a higher cost. FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
 ANCHOR MATERIALS
 The anchor material depends on the application and size of the pneumatic structure
 .

• STEEL CABLES
• Steel wires are twisted into strands which are then
twisted around a core to form the cable.

BALLASTS
 Materials for ballasts of smaller structures
include sand bags,
 concrete blocks or bricks.
 The ballasts must be placed around
the perimeter of the structure to
evenly distribute the load.
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 ANALYSIS
 The analysis can be carried out either mathematically, numerically or experimentally.
 In simple forms forces are resolved normal to the plan of the membrane.
 This leads to the formula relating the membrane tensions to the principles radii of
curvature for a given internal pressure :
N1 = N2 = P
r1 r2
• N1, N2 = membrane tensions
• r1, r2 = the principle radii of curvature
• P = internal pressure

 RESPONSE OF HEMISPHERICAL STRUCTURE TO WIND

 Apart from rain and snow accumulations, the causes of filler are inadequate encourage and
the instability due to high wind speeds.
 The first part of this studies, an aero elastic model of a large – span, hemispherical, air –
supported roof was designed and tested.
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CONSULTANTS
 Objective is to examine the response and the internal pressure fluctuations caused by
wind loading.
 In second part of study, procedure is based on the measurements of the external
pressures using a rigid model.

 CONSTRUCTION OF AEROELASTIC MODEL :

 The model was made using Plexiglas mold to require shape under pressure and elevated
temperature.
 To make adjustments inside the model, a circular access door was made in the chamber
wall.
 A manometer was attached to the chamber to monitor the mean internal pressure and to
detect leakage.
 Pressure transducer was connected inside the model to monitor the internal pressure
fluctuation caused by the movement of the roof by the wind pressure.
 Aluminum foil targets were glued to the roof at the probe locations to provide electrical
conductivity.

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CONSULTANTS
VIBRATION OF PNUEMATIC STRUCTURE INTERACTING WITH
AIR :

 The effect of air surrounding the structure on the structure’s natural frequencies
is significant. For the higher frequencies the influence of the air is less
pronounced.
 The effect of compressibility of the air varies with the frequency of the force
applied.

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CASE STUDY 1
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INFLATABLE TEAHOUSE - KENGO KUMA (JAPAN)
 The Teahouse was a present for
the city of Frankfurt/M. by
Japanese companies. It is placed
in the entrance hall or on a little
hill in the garden of the museum.
 The Teahouse got the working
title „peanut“, because of its
shape.
 A bigger cover encloses a
smaller inner one.
 The two are welded airtight and
are blown up like an inflatable
mattress.
 Instead of bars both covers are
connected with 306 cables which
create a golf ball like surface.
 When an inner pressure of 1.000
Pascal is reached, the „Peanut
"stands, with 1.500 Pascal, the
“smooth shell”’ is stabile enough
to resist a storm.
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STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
 The structure is made from a double layer of
40% light transmitting GORE™
TENARA® Architectural Fabric.

Force components at the membrane edge

(Note the angle of force with horizontal)

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PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING

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 Even with two layers of fabric, plenty of natural
daylight filters through the walls. At night,
integrated LED lights make the entire structure
glow.
 Thanks to the fabric's flexibility, the structure can
be quickly deflated, folded, moved and reinflated.
 When a ventilation system is activated, the
teahouse swells into shape like a white high-tech
textile blossom.

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CASE STUDY 2
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AIR FOREST, USA
• Architects: Mass Studies -
Minsuk Cho + Kisu Park
• Location: City Park, Denver,
Colorado, USA 
• Design Team: Joungwon Lee,
Bumhyun Chun, Kyungmin
Kwon,  
• Structure: Pneumatic
• Construction: ABR 
• Finishing: Nylon Fabric With
Silver Dot Printing
• Gross Floor Area: 673 Sqm 
• Design Year: 2004-2008 
• Construction Year: 2008 
• Photographs: Sungpil
Won / Mass Studies

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• A temporary public pavilion
installed in City Park, Denver,
Colorado, USA
• Used for an arts and cultural event
during the Democratic National
Convention 2008.
• The event invited 10 artists and
architects to design or exhibit site-
specific projects at various locations
of the city, for the public to
converge and spark dialogue across
the city through innovative cultural
initiatives, during the period of 24th
to 30th August.
• Our invitation was to create a
temporary public space to be
utilized in a vast array of scheduled
events (such as the Yoga Health
Festival, a cocktail party for the
convention, a high school play) as
well as for the general public to
enjoy.
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 STRUCTURE DESCRIPTION
 Air Forest is a 56.3m long, 25m wide pneumatic structure,
composed of 9 hexagonal canopy units, at 4m height.
 These units are interconnected as one large piece of fabric, which
are then inflated from the 14 blowers that are located at the base
inside its 35 columns.
 These columns are 5m apart, and are weighed down by dirt and
lighting elements which are also inside the columns, which light
up at night and provide a public space after dark as well.
 6 each of these pneumatic columns form a unit as they are
connected in a hexagonal manner creating a circular opening from
their inside perimeter.
 Out of the 9 total hexagonal units formed, 3 of them are left open-
air while the remaining 6 have vortex-shaped meshes that hang
from them, providing shades for the public from the harsh sunlight.
 The nylon fabric is coated with a gradient of silver dots, whose
reflective surface mimics the colors of its surrounding
environment, as well as providing a playful dotted shadow on the
people under the structure.
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STRUCTURE ANALYSIS
 Air Forest works using air pressure.
 Air compressors which show in the diagram will
pumped air into the structure at each the
COLUMNS, air pressure are easily maintained at
the even rate, thus the structure wont rapture easily.
 This air pressure is grater than the gravity.
 The hole serve for a purpose of let in coming wind
to escape partially through it than allowing it to
counter the wind force entirely.
 The nylon sheet is also a flexible sheet compared to
the rest of the nylon found on the columns.
 The designer purposefully designed the sheet by
seaming it with the lesser tension.
 The seam normally using it with the glue or sew to
stick them together.
 By having that sheet with lesser tension, now it can
takes on higher wind loads, without worrying it
will ruptures the whole structures or lift up the
whole structure.

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 REFERENCES
1. https://www.slideshare.net/Krishnagnr/pneumatic-structures-55250260
2. https://www.google.com/search?q=pneumatic+structures&tbm=isch&safe=active&chips=q:p
neumatic+structures,g_1:famous:HlbtB09Uq-E%3D&rlz=1C1AVSF_enIN873IN873&safe=a
ctive&hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwjWx6P57OfoAhX15XMBHdqUDC0Q4lYoBnoECAEQIA&biw
=1381&bih=612
3. https://www.slideshare.net/MaryamShah8/pneumatic-structure
4. https://www.archdaily.com/22847/air-forest-mass-studies
5. https://archello.com/project/air-forest
6. https://www.slideshare.net/ogustians/pneumatic-structuresmodular-construction-technology
7. https://www.tensinet.com/index.php/component/tensinet/?view=project&id=4399
8. http://kree-ey-tiv-i-tee.blogspot.com/2011/02/natural-architecture.html
9. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326673085_Design_and_Analysis_of_Pneumatic_St
ructures

10. https://iam.tugraz.at/studio/w09/blog/wpcontent/uploads/2009/11/ER_IAM_DIFA_T1_Niels
Wouters_LowQ.pdf

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THANK YOU

SALONI S. 17 BAR 072

VIKRANT B. 17 BAR 041
MITI D. 17 BAR 050
MEET C. 17 BAR 044
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ISHA G. 17 BAR 054 33