Find a variety of structural analysis models of tensile membrane structures to download, which you can use for training purposes or for your projects.
Analysis & Design Software for Tensile Membrane Structures
Structural FEM Analysis and Design
The structural analysis software RFEM 6 is the basis of a modular program family. The main program RFEM 6 is used to define structures, materials, and loads of planar and spatial structural systems consisting of plates, walls, shells, and members. The program also allows you to create combined structures as well as model solid and contact elements.
Wind Simulation and Wind Load Generation
The RWIND 2 stand-alone program is recommended for complex structures. This program simulates wind flows around any structures by means of a digital wind tunnel.
The generated wind loads acting on these objects can be imported to RFEM or RSTAB.
Form-Finding of Membrane Structures
The Form-Finding add-on for RFEM 6 search for the optimal shape of the members subjected to axial forces and the surface models subjected to tension. The shape is determined by the equilibrium between the member axial force or the membrane stress and the existing boundary conditions. The resulting new model shape with impressed force conditions is made available as a universally applicable initial state for further calculation of the entire structure.
Consideration of Nonlinear Material Laws
The Nonlinear Material Behavior add-on for RFEM 6 allows you to consider material nonlinearities in RFEM.
There is 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." This functionality enables the simulation of the nonlinear strain behavior of, for example, ETFE foils.
Cutting Patterns of Tensile Membrane Structures
The RF‑CUTTING‑PATTERN add-on module for RFEM 5 calculates and organizes cutting patterns for membrane structures. Boundary conditions of the cutting patterns on curved geometry are determined by boundary lines and independent planar cutting lines or geodesic cutting lines. The flattening process is performed according to the minimum energy theory.
Add-ons and Add-on Modules for Structural Analysis of Tensile Membrane Structures
For the structural analysis and design of tensile membrane structures or their substructures, we recommend the add-ons and add-on modules of the Steel Structures and Aluminum and Lightweight Structures industries.
Interfaces for Data Exchange
The structural analysis software provided by Dlubal Software can be integrated seamlessly into the Building Information Modeling (BIM) process. The large number of interfaces ensures the data exchange of digital building models with RFEM or RSTAB.
The web service (programmable interface) can be used to read or write data from/to RFEM and RSTAB.
Support and Learning
Customer service is a fundamental pillar of the Dlubal Software company philosophy. We provide any necessary support you need to complete your daily work.
Contact Us
Do you have any questions about our products or which are best suited for your design projects? Contact us via phone, email, or chat or find suggested solutions and useful tips on our FAQ page available 24/7.
Further Information
Models to Download
Dlubal Software is a member of the TensiNet Association .
Doctoral Thesis on Membrane Structure Design According to FEA
This doctoral thesis by Rostislav Lang deals with the design and analysis of membrane structures using FEA software.


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.
- How do I determine wind loads on structures of any shape?
- How do I activate the RF‑FORM‑FINDING add-on module?
- Is it also possible to calculate cable structures in RFEM and RSTAB?
- Why do the results in a modal analysis differ between the initial prestress and the surface load?
- Although I have modeled two identical structural systems, I obtain a different shape. Why?
- I want to create a mapped mesh for a circular hole plate. Is it possible to generate such a mesh in RFEM?
- How is it possible to make factorized combinations of a dead load in the context of form‑finding?
- It seems that the members stay not deformed after my RF‑FORM‑FINDING calculation. What did I wrong?
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Can I export my cutting pattern?
- How do I model a tent roof with two cone tips?
Recommended for Tensile Membrane Structures