This doctoral thesis by Rostislav Lang deals with the design and analysis of membrane structures using FEA software.
Add-on Modules - Tensile Membrane Structures
Structural Engineering Software for Tensile Membrane Structures
The structural analysis software RFEM allows for form‑finding, structural analysis, and determination of cutting patterns of tensile membrane and cable structures.
The calculation is performed according to the large deformation analysis. When determining the cutting patterns, user‑defined intersection lines and compensation dimensions are considered.
RF-FORM-FINDING Add-on Module for RFEM
The RF-FORM-FINDING add‑on module searches for shapes of structures subjected to tension or stress, such as membrane and cable structures, shells, and other structures.
The shape is calculated by the equilibrium between the surface stress (prestress) and natural or geometric boundary conditions.
RF-CUTTING-PATTERN Add-on Module for RFEM
RF-CUTTING-PATTERN calculates and organizes the cutting pattern for membrane structures.
The planarization process is carried out in compliance with the minimum energy theory.
RF-MAT NL Add-on Module for RFEM
It offers the option to couple surfaces with the stiffness types „Membrane" and „Membrane-Orthotropic" with the material models „Isotropic nonlinear elastic 2D/3D" and „Isotropic plastic 2D/3D" (RF-MAT-NL add-on module required). This functionality enables the simulation of the nonlinear strain behavior of, for example, ETFE foils.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Recreational Area Tension Membrane Structure in Châteauneuf-de-Galaure, France
The engineering company ACS provided the full project structural analysis and design including the fabric membrane and frame structure.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Tennis Court Tension Membrane Roof in Belin-Béliet, France
The Belin-Béliet (department of Gironde) municipality tennis club, founded in 1976, completed a new tennis hall in July 2019. This project was made possible due to a subsidy provided by the French Tennis Federation along with the support of the municipality.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Membrane Roof Structure on the Banks of the Elbe in Dresden, Germany
Every summer, movie nights and other events take place on the banks of the Elbe in Dresden. Over 200 000 visitors throughout the summer attend more than 55 films and concerts complete with national and international artists.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Tensile Structure for "International Circus Festival of Italy"
For twenty years, the Circus Festival in Latina has been thrilling audiences with the world’s most talented artists. The International Circus Festival of Italy, founded by Giulio Montico and operated by the Montico family, has been recognized globally since the first performance. The circus tent built in Latina has made it possible to appreciate the quality of the many artists performing there.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
"Four-Season-Arch" Luxury Camping Tent, USA
The company Under Canvas provides the unique opportunity for all-inclusive adventure glamping (glamorous camping). Established in 2009, the company has since grown to include multiple luxury glamping resorts and customized events all over the country.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Stadium La Montura, Chile
A roofing made of steel and fabric membranes was designed for the football stadium in San Bernardo, a city in the south of Santiago de Chile. The elegant, curved design in lightweight construction now also covers the standing area.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
CanopyMarqui Luxury Camping Tent, USA
Under Canvas began in 2009 with the opening of an all-inclusive glamping adventure package. It has since grown to include eight luxury glamping resorts and a customized event’s offering, bringing the glamping experience to life anywhere in the country.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Bus Station Roof Structure in Halle (Saale), Germany
The architectural highlight of the Halle (Saale) bus station include the stylish canopies over the bus platforms. The continuous lights integrated at the roof edges are the real eye-catcher especially at night.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Open-Air Theater Grandstand Roof Structure in Sömmersdorf, Germany
An impressive roof structure was constructed over the Passion Play open-air theater in Sömmersdorf, Franconia (Germany). The self-supporting spatial steel structure includes a PVC membrane roof covering the 14,908 ft² auditorium. Only four foundations in total support the entire roof structure.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Entrance Structure "Mitoseum" in the Dinosaur Park Kleinwelka, Germany
The entrance structure to the dinosaur park Kleinwelka near Bautzen, Germany has a total height of 72 ft and resembles mitosis. Mitosis is a type of cell division and the origin of life. The bionic structure consists of 1,389 steel tube members assembled together at 269 joints.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Oxigeno in San Francisco de Heredia, Costa Rica
A unique project called "Oxigeno" is currently under construction in San Francisco de Heredia, San José, Costa Rica. The recreational and commercial space, which measures almost 1,345,489 ft², offers the visitor a relaxing shopping atmosphere in harmony with nature.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
New Construction for Bus Station in Aarau, Switzerland
A unique structure which roofs the main bus station in the Swiss town of Aarau was built at the end of 2013.
The canopy has a cloud-like shape and contains the largest single-chamber cushion in the world. It has a volume of 1810 m 3 and a roofed area of 1070 m 2 .
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Wall Facade of Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany
Allianz Arena is a soccer stadium in Munich, Germany, which hosted the opening match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
The translucent exterior facade of the stadium emits light in various colors and thus makes the whole arena building very special.
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Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Rainforest Biome of Eden Project in Cornwall, United Kingdom
The Eden Project is a complex of two biomes and outdoor gardens with plants from many diverse climates and environments.
The biome is a steel frame structure with cladding panels consisting of triple-layered membrane cushions made of ETFE foil.
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Doctoral Thesis on Membrane Structure Design According to FEA
Recommended Events
Membrane Structures with Wind Loads from CFD Wind Simulation
Webinar 03/24/2020 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM CET
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Knowledge Base Articles

Screenshots and Application Examples | Tensile Membrane Structures
Product Features Articles

Nonlinear Material Law for Membranes
In RFEM, there is an option to couple surfaces with the stiffness types "Membrane" and "Membrane Orthotropic" with the material models "Isotropic Nonlinear Elastic 2D/3D" and "Isotropic Plastic 2D/3D" (RF-MAT NL add-on module required).
This functionality enables the simulation of the nonlinear strain behavior of, for example, ETFE foils.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How do I determine wind loads on structures of any shape?
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How do I activate the RF-FORM-FINDING add-on module?
- Is it also possible to calculate cable structures in RFEM and RSTAB?
- I would like to calculate and design "temporary structures." What do I need for this?
- I have already divided my membrane roof into individual surfaces. Can I quickly create a cutting pattern from these surfaces?
- How is an inflatable object simulated in RFEM?
- How can I define a material allowance at the edge of a cutting pattern?
- I have modeled a structure made of outer and inner cables as well as membranes, and get a message about instability or the error message "Jacobi matrix is not positive definite" in the RF‑FORM‑FINDING add-on module. What should I do?
- Why does the FE mesh of my conical membrane look like angular after the form-finding?
- How to model a cable net structure in using the RF-FORM-FINDING add-on module?
Customer Projects
Associated Products