Novel deployable strut-tensioned membrane structures

Abstract

Tensioned membrane structures and deployable strut structures have great potential for enclosing large span due to their advantage of lightweight and deployment mechanism which enable fast-track construction. This paper investigates a novel system, which combines the two mentioned systems into one, named as deployable strut-tensioned membrane structure (DSTMS). Two novel DSTMS, namely the Umbrella DSTMS and the Cone-shaped DSTMS, are proposed. The main innovation of these structures is the deployment mechanism of cable-strut system making membrane structures deployable and free-standing. The proposed DSTMS exhibits good structural efficiency due to the use of high strength tension elements (membrane and cables) and efficient arrangement of struts, which overcome the inherit weekness of low stiffness of deployable strut structures. Parametric studies have been carried out on 48m × 48m square grids of Coneshaped and Umbrella DSTMS to evaluate their weight efficiency. Deployment efficiency of DSTMS is attributed to the pinned-jointed strut system. The deployment mechanism of DSTMS is verified experimentally by building prototype models.