MEMBRANE STRUCTURE:

A MODERN AND AESTHETIC STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

FX Supartono
Li Zhongli
Wang Xiujiang

1. INTRODUCTION
The membrane structure, called also fabric structure or tension structure, is a modern
structural system that was developed in the middle of 20th century, with a thin and flexible
surface (membrane) that carries loads through tensile stresses only (no compression or
bending). This structure uses various types of thin and high strength membrane
materials such as PVC, PTFE or ETFE, which is usually supported by another tension or
compression or bending structures such as high strength cables or steel columns or
space truss structure. By applying a tension stressing in the membrane surface, it may
present an aesthetic shape of a spatial structure.
Due to its characters of being flexible, easy to form, and light weight, the membrane
structure is most often used as roofs as they can economically and attractively be
extended to large span, e.g. for the aesthetic roofing or siding of various buildings such
as stadium, theatre, swimming pool, exhibition hall, lobbys roofing or side walks awning
of a hotel or mall, or a rest areas awning in a garden or beach, as well as for roofing at
an entertainment center, etc.
The first successful development of membrane structure in large-scale was realized by
Russian engineer Vladimir Shukhov in the Nizhny Novgorod Fair in 1896 [1]. He has
developed a membrane shell structure covering an area of 27,000 m2 that were
composed of membrane and steel trusses (Fig. 1). For this expo, Shukhov has designed
and realized successfully eight membrane structures as thin shell structure exhibition
pavilions.

Fig. 1. Worlds first membrane

shell structure in 1896

Fig. 2. Membrane roofing at Olympic Stadium

in Munich 1972 [Wikipedia]

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

In the 20th century, the concept was more developed by European architects e.g. Italian
architect Antonio Gaudi and German architect Frei Otto for various large span
membrane-covered structures in Europe and Australia such as German Pavilion at
World Expo 1967 and the Sydney Myer Music Bowl. However, the membrane roof of
Olympic Stadium designed by Frei Otto in 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich (Fig.
2) has induced extensive use of membrane roofing structures in all over the world [1]. The
later successful development of membrane structures are shown as examples in Fig. 3
to 8.
Fig. 3 shows the famous Jiangsu Nantong Stadium with retractable membrane roofing
system (being able to be retracted for opening and shutting). Fig. 4 shows the Grand
Opera House in Shenzhen with tension style membrane roofing. Fig. 5 shows the
Tenggarong Madya Stadium at Kutai Kartanegara with frame membrane roofing system.
Fig. 6 shows the membrane covered pedestrian street at Shenzhen.

Fig. 3. Jiangsu Nantong Stadium with retractable

membrane roofing system [Li Zhongli]

Fig. 4. Shenzhen Opera House

[Li Zhongli]

Fig. 5. Tenggarong Madya Stadium

[FX Supartono]

Fig. 6. Pedestrian street in Shenzhen [Li Zhongli]

Fig. 7 shows the beautiful membrane roof of Grand Stadium at Wuhu. Fig. 8 shows the
membrane-covered Pasar Kapiten (Pasar Kuliner) at Palembang. Those examples show
different types of membrane structures in various purposes.
Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

Fig. 7. Wuhu Stadium [Li Zhongli]

Fig. 8. Pasar Kapiten in Palembang [Hanafiah]

2. VARIOUS TYPES OF MEMBRANE STRUCTURES

2.1. Tension and Suspension Membrane Structure
The tension/suspension membrane structure represents the main stream of membrane
design and construction at this era. In this type of membrane structure, all membrane
surfaces will have a curve shape. There is no point of zero curvature so that the
membrane surface represents more natural stream line and more smooth. Therefore this
type of membrane structure is usually most preferable by the designers because of its
aesthetics. Example of this type can be seen in the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10.

Fig. 9. Venetian Hotel in Shenzhen

[Li Zhongli]

Fig. 10. Tension membrane at main boulevard

of 2010 Shanghai World Expo [Li ZL]

The tension is induced in the membrane in addition to any self weight and live loads they
may carry, with the objective to ensure that the normally very flexible structural elements
remain stiff under all working loads.
Tension can be applied to the membrane by stretching from its edges or by pretensioning cables which is supporting the membrane and hence changing its shape. In
this case, the level of pretension will determine the shape of membrane structure.
Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

However, the internal force path of this system is more complicated than the usual frame
structure so that the structural design, the cutting pattern design and the installation
should be done with high precision (Fig. 11 & 12).

Fig. 11. Tension membrane in 2010 Shanghai

World Expo [Li Zhongli]

Fig. 12. Tension membrane in 2010 Shanghai

World Expo [Li Zhongli]

2.2. Frame Membrane Structure

This kind of membrane structure is composed by a self-stable frame structure covered
with membrane. The frame structure can be steel frame, steel space frame or space
truss, then working together to support all working loads. The design of this structural
system is similar than the usual frame structure. The only difference is that the
membrane should be calculated as a plane stress element so that the external loads are
carried by tensile stresses that are induced in the membrane surface only, called
membrane stresses (Fig. 13 and Fig. 14).

Fig. 13. Membrane roofing of Tenggarong

Madya Stadium [PP Kaltim]

Fig. 14. Frame structure supporting the

membrane [PP Kaltim]

2.3. Air-supported or Air-inflated Membrane Structure

The air-supported or air-inflated membrane structure uses the air pressure that is blown
continuously inside the membrane structure to inflate the membrane until becoming stiff
to support its self weight and all other surface loads. Usually a pressure of approximately
Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

3/1000 higher than the atmospheric pressure will be applied and should remain constant
during operation. To attain this condition, an automatic air pressure regulator should be
installed in order to ensure the maintenance of constant air pressure inside the
membrane (Fig. 15 and Fig. 16).

Fig. 15. Air-supported membrane structure

in Beijing [Li Zhongli]

Fig. 16. Membrane during air inflation

[Li Zhongli]

3. VARIOUS TYPES OF MEMBRANE MATERIALS

3.1. PVC Type Membrane Material
PVC type membrane is basically composed of high strength fiber such as polyamide,
polyester or polyvinyl as a base fabric, and then apply main coating of poly-vinyl-chloride
(PVC). For this type of membrane, it is mostly required to apply another surface
treatment by using poly-vinyl-di-fluor (PVDF) or acrylic in order to improve its selfcleaning performance and increase its durability (Fig. 17).
3.2. PTFE Type Membrane Material
PTFE type membrane is based on glass fiber cloth and surface lining of poly-tetra-fluoroethylene (PTFE). It is no need to give any surface treatment on this type of membrane
material because PTFE itself is chemically very stable (Fig. 18). In general, PTFE has
better strength and durability as well as better self-cleaning performance than PVC
(PVDF) type membrane, but it is more expensive in price.

Fig. 17. PVC type membrane

Fig. 18. PTFE type membrane

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

3.3. ETFE Type Membrane Material

ETFE type membrane is composed of thin ethylene-tetra-fluoro-ethylene layer. Due to its
fineness, ETFE membrane is much more transparent (tranparancy rate 90%) than the
above two types of membrane so that in certain extent can replace glasses as
transparent roofing material. However, as there is no base fabric in this type of
membrane, it has less strength. Therefore, this membrane is usually not used for the
tension membrane structure but is more applicable in the frame membrane structure or
air-supported membrane structure. Application example of this membrane can be seen
at the Cube Swimming Hall in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games (Fig. 19).
3.4. ePTFE Type Membrane Material
ePTFE type membrane is composed of expanded PTFE as base fabric and then treated
with PTFE lining so that is becoming a pure PTFE based material. It is more flexible and
has better pliant behavior than the other membrane materials and more transparent than
the usual PTFE membrane (tranparancy rate 40%). Besides, it is possible to be
recycled so that can be rated as sustainable material. ePTFE membrane has been used
in Norway Pavilion at 2010 Shanghai World Expo (Fig. 20).

Fig. 19. The Cube Swimming Hall at 2008

Beijing Olympic [FX Supartono]

Fig. 20. Norway Pavilion in 2010 World Expo

using ePTFE membrane [Li Zhongli]
Supartono]

3.5. Common Characteristics of Membrane Materials

Although there are various types of materials, the membrane should have the following
common characteristics:
High strength
Durable
Self-cleaning
Sound insulation
Heat insulation
Low rate flammable

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

4. DESIGN CONCEPT OF MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

General design concept of membrane structure should have at least three steps of
analysis:
Form-finding analysis
Loading analysis
Cutting pattern analysis
4.1. Form-finding Analysis
Form-finding is a step of analysis to find an equilibrium shape of the membrane that may
satisfy the pre-tensioning force distribution at the given boundary condition. A correct
form-finding analysis will give a good base to enter on the next steps of loading analysis
and cutting pattern analysis. It should be understood that the behavior of membrane
structure which depends upon pre-tensioning to attain their strength is non-linear, so
that the membrane shape is generally difficult to design.
For that reason, the form-finding analysis is usually done in two steps. Firstly, we may
assume the membrane mass is very light, and that the pre-tensioning force will not vary
on the variation of membrane form. Based on assumption of constant pre-tensioning
force and constant cable length with very small elastic modulus (to attain a very
flexible assumption), we may obtain a membrane curve shape that satisfies the
equilibrium condition. Next step, based on the first step result, we return to the real
characteristic and behavior of the materials in doing the real form-finding analysis so that
we may obtain a real membrane shape that satisfies the real equilibrium condition at the
given boundary condition.
4.2. Loading Analysis
Loading should be analyzed in accordance with the local building code. In general, in the
tropical weather zone, we should consider at least the following loading condition:
Dead load / self weight
Prestress / pre-tensioning load
Live load
Wind load
Other loads such as rain water load, temperature load, etc.
Loading combination should be done in accordance with the local building code. For the
frame membrane structure in particular, seismic load should be considered in the
analysis.
4.3. Cutting Pattern Analysis
Cutting pattern analysis should be developed according to the correct form-finding
analysis result. Objective of this analysis is to obtain how to use the plane and flat
membrane material without pre-tensioning in controlling and managing the real curve
shape (e.g. paraboloid shape, saddle shape, etc) under pre-tensioning. In this step,
economic aspect should be considered in how to obtain the most effective and efficient
cutting pattern so that a minimal material waste can be achieved.

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

4.4. Membrane structure design concept

Due to its flexible behavior, the membrane structure can be calculated as a thin
membrane element on which the external loads are carried by tensile stresses that are
induced in the membrane surface only, called membrane stresses. These membrane
stresses should form an internal and external equilibrium against the external forces
within a specific boundary condition that may induce the reaction forces, which represent
in fact the basic forces to design the supporting structure such as pre-tensioning cables
or space truss structure.
Until the end of 60th (20th century), physical forming method was the main analysis
method for membrane structure.
The soap film method developed by German architect and engineer Frei Otto was one of
the most well known physical forming method. In the physical meaning, soap films have
uniform stress in every direction and require a closed boundary to form. They naturally
form a minimal surface, which is meaning the shape with minimal area and embodying
minimal energy. However for large films, the self weight can seriously and adversely
affect the form.
For a membrane with curvature in two directions, the basic equation of equilibrium is:

where:
R1 and R2 are the principal radius of curvature for soap films or the directions of the
warp and weft of membrane
t1 and t2 are the tensions in the relevant directions
w is the load per m2
M.R. Barnes [2] [7] proposed to use dynamic relaxation method to master the membrane
structure form-finding analysis. The advantage of this method is no need to solve the
non-linear analysis process but need to control manually the elements stiffness on the
calculation.
H.J. Schek & L. Grundig [8] [10] proposed to use very small curve elements and force
density method to perform the form-finding analysis, on which each element can be
simplified in linear behavior so that the process is more simple and quicker.
Wenxian [11][12] proposed to use the minimum multiplier method to solve the form-finding
analysis, while R.B. Haber upon that basic idea proposed the extended minimum
multiplier method [13]. E. Hang & G.H. Powell [14][15] brought the finite element technique in
this analysis, while Toshio & Chin Tsangli [16][17] proposed finite curve element method to
solve the analysis.
Grundig & Moncrieff have more developed later the force density method [18][19] and
created the Computer Aided Design (CAD) program for membrane structure analysis.

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

Fig. 21. Finite element method for complicated membrane shape analysis

Now the non-linear finite element analysis has been largely used by the designers to
analyze the membrane structure, especially for the complicated membrane shape
analysis (Fig. 21). Makoto [20] and his Japanese colleagues have also developed a
complete CAD & CAM program for analysis and fabrication of membrane structure.
4.5. Membrane structure design procedure
4.5.1. Safety factor
First should choose type of membrane to be used, and then define its mechanical
characteristics. In the design analysis, a safety factor of 3.0 to 4.0 will generally be
required for temporary loading condition, and 6.0 to 8.0 for permanent loading condition
to calculate the maximum warp and weft stresses of membrane elements.
4.5.2. Loading
4.5.2.1. Self weight / Dead load (DL)
Membrane self weight will be defined according to the membrane type.
4.5.2.2. Pre-tensioning load (PL)
The membrane has to be pre-tensioned in order to form the required shape and
geometry. A uniform pre-tensioning load should be inputted in warp direction and weft
direction. Reaction force will be obtained by calculation that can be used later as action
loads to the supporting structures.
4.5.2.3. Live load (LL)
Live loads will be applied for example as installation working load or snow load.
4.5.2.4. Wind load (WL)
Wind load will be defined in accordance with the design wind speed and the site
characteristics.

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

4.5.2.5. Other loads (OL)

Other loads will be applied for example for temperature load, differential boundary
displacements, seismic load, etc.
4.5.3. Loading combinations
Loading combinations will be calculated generally according to the Working Stress
Design Method (non-factored combination):
Load Case 1:
Load Case 2:
Load Case 3:
Load Case 4:
Load Case 5:
Load Case 6:
Load Case 7:

DL + PL
DL + PL + LL
DL + PL + WL
DL + PL + LL + WL
DL + PL + LL + OL
DL + PL + WL + OL
DL + PL + LL + WL + OL

In fact, the loading combination can be more than the above mentioned, because wind
load, temperature load and seismic load can be considered for (+) and (-) depending on
the loading direction.

5. MEMBRANE PROJECT EXAMPLES

5.1. Anhui Wuhu Stadium Wholly tension membrane structure
Wuhu stadium has 254 meters long, and 225m wide, with membrane surface of 20,700
m2. The longest cantilever span of the membrane roof is 57m, with the highest
membranes ridge cable level at +44m, and the highest upper ring beam level at +69.1m
(Fig. 7 and Fig. 22 & Fig. 23).
This stadium is a wholly tension membrane structure on which the stay cables
tensioning is realized together with the membranes tensioning.

Fig. 22. Wuhu stadium in Anhui

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

Fig. 23. Membrane structural scheme

of Wuhu stadium

Fig. 24. Membrane structural scheme of

Shandong Yantai stadium

5.2. Shandong Yantai Stadium Element tension membrane structure

Yantai stadium has a symmetric crescent moon shape of membrane roofing that is
stayed by cables on a steel arch of 285m span, with membrane surface of 14,000 m 2.
The longest cantilever span of the membrane roof is 36m, with the highest membrane
roof level at +27.6m, and the highest steel arch level at +38.6m (Fig. 24 & Fig. 25).
This stadium is a tension membrane structure with tensioning applied per membrane
element.

Fig. 25. Yantai stadium in Shandong

5.3. Tenggarong Madya Stadium Frame membrane structure

Tenggarong Madya stadium has a curve shape of membrane roofing that is supported
by arch steel truss of 232.93m span, with the highest arch level at +37.98m. The
membrane surface area is 6,300 m2, with the widest span of 32.42m (Fig. 5, 13 & 14,
Fig. 26 & 27).
This stadium has capacity for 30,000 persons, and being one of the most modern
stadiums in East Kalimantan.

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

Fig. 26. Tenggarong Madya stadium in

Kutai Kartanegara

Fig. 27. Membrane structure scheme of

Tenggarong Madya stadium

5.4. Beijing Environment Air-Supported Membrane Structure

This membrane structure has rectangular shape at its base, 120m long and 68m wide,
with the highest level at +24.2m. The total volume inside is 150,000m3 (Fig. 15, Fig. 28 &
Fig. 29).
The membrane has 3 exit doors, among them two doors are for emergency exits. Air
pressure inside the membrane is approximately 3/1000 higher than the atmospheric
pressure.

Fig. 28. Beijing Environment Air-supported Membrane Structure

Fig. 29. Air-supported membrane pattern

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

5.5. Aero Spatial Experiment Base Camp Air-inflated membrane structure

This membrane structure consists of two parts combination of air-supported membrane
and air-inflated membrane, having dimension of 92m long, 60m wide, and cylinder with
40m diameter (Fig. 30 & 31).
The dome is installed with 12 air-inflated stiffeners (3m diameter each) in meridian
direction and 3 air-inflated stiffeners (2.5m diameter each) in transverse direction; while
the cylinder is installed with 5 air-inflated stiffeners (2.5m diameter each) in perimeter
and 3 air-inflated stiffeners (2m diameter each) in longitudinal direction (Fig. 31).

Fig. 30. Air-inflated membrane structure

Fig. 31. Air-inflated stiffeners inside membrane structure

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

6. LEARNING FROM MEMBRANE FAILURE CASES

Following the large utilization of membrane for the building structural system, some
accidents have occurred in the past on part or whole membrane structures, particularly
due to improper installation process or by mistakes in the membrane structure design as
well as the membrane cutting pattern design.
Due to its flexible behavior, it is easy to induce instability in the membrane surface or
part of the surface due to strong wind or rain water during installation before pretensioning. For example when it is raining, if the membrane doesnt have a good sloping
pattern for water flow, it is possible to induce a water basin inside the membrane area
that may exceed the designed service load or allowable stress. The membrane may then
be cracked or even failure.
Membrane installation is also important step that should be done with a lot of care. For
example sometime the membrane surface had been poked by a metallic equipment
during installation and become slightly damaged. In this case, special treatment should
be done immediately. Missing to do that, the membrane may decrease its stress bearing
capacity and possible become failure when it is tensioning.
Mistakes in membrane structure design or cutting pattern design may induce high stress
concentration in part of the membrane surface that may also cause cracks or failure of
the membrane.
Sometime it is difficult to design the whole membrane surface in a homogeny stress in
service state. When this condition appears in the design analysis result, the membrane
area that represents higher stress concentration should be verified with care. If
necessary, a local strengthening treatment should be given in that particular area.
Fig. 32 here-in below shows some damage or failure cases of membrane structures.

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

Fig. 32. Some damage or failure cases of membrane structures

7. CLOSING REMARK
In the past civil engineering history, the civil engineers have tried to find and develop a
structure that may decrease or eliminate the action of bending moments and shear
forces through an arch or dome structure for obtaining a state of near compression
only. The membrane, due to its character of being flexible, will have that advantage to
carry loads through tensile stresses only (no compression or bending moment or
shear). This will facilitate the easy application of membrane to be used for large span
roofing structure. In addition, due to its light weight, we believe that the membrane might
become one of the favorite construction materials in the future.

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan

REFERENCES
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

9.

10.
11.

12.

13.

14.
15.

16.
17.
18.

19.

20.

Wikipedia, Tensile Structure.

M. R. Barnes, Form-finding and Analysis of Prestressed Nets and Membranes, Computers
and Structures, Vol.30, No.3, 1988, pp685689
M. R. Barnes, Form-finding Analysis and Patterning of Tension Structures, 3rd Int. Conf. on
Space Structures, Guilford, September, 1984, pp730736
M. R. Barnes, Non-linear Numerical Solution Methods for Structures in Air Supported
Structures, The State of the Art(The Institution of Structural Engineers), London, 1980,
pp3856
M. R. Barnes, B. H. V. Topping and D .S. Wakefield, Aspects of Form-finding by Dynamic
Relaxation, Int. Conf. on Slender Structures, London, September 1997
M. R. Barnes, Form-finding of Minimum Surface Membranes IASS World Congress on
Space Enclosures, Montreal, 1976
M. R. Barnes, Dynamic Relaxation Analysis of Tension Networks, Proceedings of the Int.
Conf. on Tension Structures London, 1974
J. H. Argyris, T. Angelopoulos, and B. Bichat, A General Method for the Shape Finding of
Lightweight Tension Structures, Computer Method in Applied Mechanics and Engineering,
Vol.3, 1974, pp115134
H. J. Schek, The Force Density Method for Form-finding and Computations of General
Networks, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Vol.3, 1974,
pp115134
L. Grundig, Minimal Surfaces for Finding Forms of Structural Membranes, Computers and
Structures, Vol.30, No.3, 1988, pp679683
W. C. Knudson and A. C. Scordelis, Cable Forces for Desired Shapes in Cable-net
Structures, IASS Pacific Symp., Part II on Tension Structures and Space Frames, Tokyo and
Kyoto, 1972, pp93102
H. Ohyama and S. Kawamata, A Problem for Surface Design in Prestressed Cable Nets,
IASS Pacific Symp., Part II on Tension Structures and Space Frames,Tokyo and Kyoto,
1972, pp103 115
R. B. Haber, J. F. Abel, Initial Equilibrium Solution Methods for Cable Reinforced
Membranes, Part I- Formulations, Computer Method in Applied Mechanics and Engineering,
Vol.30, 1982, pp263284
E. Haug and G. H. Powell, Analytical Shape Finding for Cable Nets, IASS Pacific Symp.,Part
II on Tension Structures and Space Frames, Tokyo and Kyoto, 1972, pp8392
E. Haug and G. H. Powell, Finite Element Analysis of Nonlinear Membrane Structures, IASS
Pacific Symp., Part II on Tension Structures and Space Frames, Tokyo and Kyoto, 1970,
pp83 92
Toshio Nishfimura, Nobuyoshi Tosaka and Toshfio Honma, Membrane Structure Analysis
Using the Finite Element Technique, IASS Symp., Vol.2 Osaka, 1986, pp916
Chin-Tsang Li and John W. Leonard, Finite Element Analysis of Inflatable Shells, Journal of
the Engineering Mechanics Division , June, 1973, pp495513
L. Grundig and J. Bahndorf, The Design of Wide-span Roof Structures Using Microcomputers, Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Civil and Structural
Engineering, Vol.1, 1987, pp183190
L. Grundig , L. Ekert and E. Moncrieff, Geodesic and Semi-Geodesic Line Algorithms for
Cutting Pattern Generation of Architectural Textile Structures, Proceeding of Asia-Pacific
Conference on Shell and Spatial Structures, Beijing, 1996,5
Makoto Kikushima, Oshio Mochizuki, Yoshihito Saito, Kyouichi Kudo, Shinya Segawa, CAD
and CAM in Membrane Structure, Proc. Space Structures for Sports Buildings, Beijing,1987,
pp630660

Seminar dan Pameran HAKI 2011 Konstruksi Indonesia Melangkah ke Masa Depan