Stressed membranes have in themselves, engineering requirements to
maintain their shape and longevity. Our team experience in producing our
various finished projects assists many professionals in the fields of
structural engineering and architecture. As specialists we are proud to
offer advise and consultancy in these fields to a large cross section of
clients in Southern Africa.
Incorporating stressed membranes within a building envelope cause
a considerable transfer of lateral loads as they rely on double
curvature to form their correct design shapes. Our structural fabric
engineers provide information that is critical to how and where load
points should be located.
Whilst membranes are typically less than one millimeter thick,
they are capable of withstanding enormous forces with the correct
engineering. Dynamic and excessive rain, wind and gust loadings are
accounted for in this manner.
There are basically two types of membrane canopies - those where
tensile loads are transferred into adjoining structures and those that
contain the tensile loads within their own structure.
Where loads are transferred to adjoining structures, the need may
arise for re-enforcement of these. Some canopies can be tied back to
ground with engineered concrete foundations and anchors, so as to resist
the loads generated by the natural elements. In cases where the loads
are contained, our engineering solutions and fabrication, themselves a
visual architectural element, deal with these so that the surrounding
structures are not compromised.
Load analyses from wind, water and deflections are developed for
all structures, which then determine steelwork form and sizes, anchors,
ring beam securing or other securing methods. Engineering structural
codes have to be adhered to in all cases and here we offer specialist
structural engineering in the field of stressed membranes structures.
Our structures are manufactured and installed to withstand all normal
and adverse conditions and loadings. Accuracy of manufacture is a key
element and CAD modeling is part of our visualization and provides
insight into the finished products and its engineering for architects,
designers and the contractors themselves.
