Textile structures provide wide enclosures of great variety and spatial interest, require minimal "rigid" structure support elements and provide very good general levels of natural daylight.[4]​ From an engineering point of view, textile structures are membranes of constant thickness that, by virtue of their surface shape and great deformity, can support the loads required in the Technical Building Code (CTE) Building (Spain)"). When carrying out a textile architecture project, three fundamental structural factors must be taken into account: the choice of the surface shape, the prestress levels and the deformity of the surface, since textile surfaces differ greatly from conventional structures.

Textile architecture can cover the same functions as a conventional building, with some advantages that predict a notable future for this type of structures: it offers a great aesthetic image that adapts perfectly to the structure of the building, it is manufactured and installed quickly and it benefits from the progress made recently in materials. They have been installed mainly in unique buildings, although little by little it is being appreciated how a tensioned structure can achieve considerable energy savings, with a very aesthetic structure.

Textile architecture can be manufactured tensioned or pneumatic.[5]​ Pneumatic covers are those supported by air, since the perpendicular effort is achieved with excess air pressure. Tensioned covers are those that use masts, tensioners and cables to tension the fabric at its ends in opposite directions and directions, even out of plane.

Some of the main reasons that favor the use of textile covers are the following:.

Today, textile structures are found in almost all climatic zones of the world and serve a wide variety of functions. The materials used to manufacture these membranes have changed a lot since their beginnings; highly technological fabrics can now be found.

The materials commonly used in the construction of membranes reflect more than 75% of incident solar energy (absorb 17% and transmit 13% of incident sunlight), which makes them very effective as "Roof (construction)" roofs in temperate, tropical and arid zones. But they also work well in temperate zones, combined with other construction systems.

Currently, textile architecture is no longer used exclusively for the creation of tensioned roofs, but is also beginning to be used to cover the facades of buildings, "pneumatic roofs" using ETFE cushions. In addition, it has reached the industrial market, for the creation of large covered spaces, storage silos, gas tanks, etc.

La forma y el comportamiento físico de las estructuras textiles difieren mucho de las convencionales estructuras de pórtico rígidas que se usan en la mayoría de los edificios. Los proyectistas de las estructuras textiles tienen en cuenta tres factores estructurales fundamentales: la elección de la forma superficial, los niveles de pretensado y la deformidad de la superficie. Hay que considerar también el ambiente interior, al igual que la elección del tipo concreto y la transparencia de la membrana que se vaya a utilizar.

Surface shape

Most contemporary textile structures are based on an anticlastic surface geometry. There are four generic types of anticlastic surfaces in common use: the cone, the saddle, the hyperbolic paraboloid and the parallel valley cone. In essence, each of them is made up of four warped elements, in which the degree of warping depends on the choice of the perimeter conditions. It is up to the designer to choose a set of boundary conditions in the process of defining the shape of the membrane. The perimeter conditions are the arrangements of all the elements that are in contact with the membrane and support the cables, masts, arches, beams, etc. Therefore, each surface is the result of the choice of certain boundary conditions.

Prestressed

Prestress contributes significantly to the stiffness of a membrane, because its curvature components interact to retain what would otherwise be significant deformations, typical of flat or cylindrical surfaces. The prestress values ​​used in practice represent a small proportion of the ultimate resistance of the membrane. It is a commitment on the part of the designer to choose the appropriate prestressing force for each installation. It must be low enough so that the membrane installation process is not very complicated and it must be high enough to maintain sufficient prestress after fatigue losses of the membrane material over time.

Deformity

Unlike what happens in more conventional building construction methods, deformity is considered a useful and important characteristic of textile structures. Furthermore, the deformations that develop in the membrane material are greater in magnitude than, for example, steel. All of this has the beneficial effect that the stresses do not increase linearly with applied loads due to the geometric changes that occur on the surface as a whole.

For example, when the wind blows over a conical membrane "Cone (geometry)"), it causes the articulated mast to tilt downwind, allowing changes in the curvature of the windward surface that attenuate the increase in membrane tensions in that area, while the curvatures of the leeward membrane "Lee (sea)") act to stabilize the mast.

Indoor environment

Textile architecture builds with flexible membranes that allow great architectural freedom, natural lighting inside and the enhancement of the roof surfaces. Natural light is inseparable from textile architecture, it is its main advantage. Natural lighting largely determines the visual comfort of users and is an element that structures a project. In a growing number of countries, official recommendations, via regulatory texts, promote the contribution of natural light.

The natural light generated by a textile cover plays a decisive role in terms of safety. It offers overhead light that is distributed over the entire surface of the roof, thus avoiding shadow areas in the work and storage stations.

Once the structure is designed, the manufacturing and installation process begins. The membrane "Membrane (structure)") used for the manufacture of tensioned structures is usually supplied in rolls. These are cut on automated cutting plotters, following the "Pattern (sewing)" pattern developed by the designer. Once the patterns are cut, they must be joined together to form the membrane. There are different ways to join the cloths, depending on the type of work and the fabric chosen. There are joints sewn, high frequency welded, hot wedge, hot air, hot irons, ultrasound, glued, etc. Once the membrane is made, the different accessories that allow it to be attached to the perimeter masts must be attached.

To do this, a type of flexible or rigid edge is installed on the perimeter of the membrane that allows the normal or tangential stresses of the membrane to be transferred to the edge system. The curved flexible edges allow for pre-tensioning of the fabric as a result of the tensile force applied to the edge element, while the rigid edges support the fabric continuously by a support structure&action=edit&redlink=1 "Support (architecture) (not yet drafted)"), which has higher lateral stiffness compared to that of the fabric. For both cases there is a wide variety of solutions and finishes that affect the perimeter construction of the fabric. At the vertices of these surfaces are the so-called fists. The membrane forces flow to the edge cables, which in turn transmit them to the cuffs and these transfer them to the support structure. The cuffs perform different functions throughout their life. They are metal pieces with strange shapes, which can damage the canvas if great care is not taken in handling and installing them on the membrane before assembly. On site, they are stoked to help with the installation and prestressing of the structure. Subsequently, they have to remain active during their service life, as an articulated part of the structure that moves in accordance with the membrane.

Finally there are the masts, which can be intermediate or perimeter. Intermediate masts usually have a metal ring at the top that allows the membrane tension level to be controlled. This ring, through threaded systems, cables or pneumatic systems, gives the appropriate tension to the membrane. Perimeter masts are usually pivoting-articulated masts that are stabilized by cables, with their corresponding tensioners that tension the mast to stabilize the fabric and give it the appropriate tension.

Once the manufacturing of the membrane and all its accessories is finished, the packaging and transportation to the installation site remains. Packaging is a very important part of the process. It must be packaged in such a way as to protect each part of the membrane from possible friction and knocks. But, above all, it must be folded in a way that facilitates installation on the construction site. That is, it must be folded as indicated by the designer, since he knows how the membrane is going to be installed in the structure: which will be the vertex that will be installed first and which will be the last, if it will be extended completely or if it will be unrolled with rollers and crane "Crane (machine)"). This way, the membrane will be protected during the installation process.

The installation process must be anticipated during the design of the structure, especially if it is large. An appropriate method must be developed, taking into account all the working conditions, the stability of the structure step by step, the handling of the material, the location of the work and the weather conditions during the lifting period). dimensional accuracy of the position of the support system points, as well as the correct placement of the plates and connection anchors. During the membrane lifting process, it may be necessary to use a cross bar to prevent damage from occurring. It is very important to take into account the weather conditions on the days in which the structures are lifted, and the lifting should not be carried out if the winds are higher than 25 km/h.

The codified classification established by the Institute of Construction Specifications CSI (Construction Specifications Institute")), together with the Construction Specifications of Canada CSC (Construction Specifications Canada), is as follows:[11]​[12]​[13]​.

The previous codings were:

The fabrics that can be used are numerous:[14]​ PES-PVC, ETFE, silicone, PVDF, waterproof, openwork "Openwork (nautical)"), colored and others. Depending on the use and location of the installation, the risk of snowfall and the average outdoor temperature, among other factors, one or the other is used. You can even use several membranes, with intermediate or insulating air chambers, to provide greater thermal protection.

Textile structures provide wide enclosures of great variety and spatial interest, require minimal "rigid" structure support elements and provide very good general levels of natural daylight.[4]​ From an engineering point of view, textile structures are membranes of constant thickness that, by virtue of their surface shape and great deformity, can support the loads required in the Technical Building Code (CTE) Building (Spain)"). When carrying out a textile architecture project, three fundamental structural factors must be taken into account: the choice of the surface shape, the prestress levels and the deformity of the surface, since textile surfaces differ greatly from conventional structures.

Textile architecture can cover the same functions as a conventional building, with some advantages that predict a notable future for this type of structures: it offers a great aesthetic image that adapts perfectly to the structure of the building, it is manufactured and installed quickly and it benefits from the progress made recently in materials. They have been installed mainly in unique buildings, although little by little it is being appreciated how a tensioned structure can achieve considerable energy savings, with a very aesthetic structure.

Textile architecture can be manufactured tensioned or pneumatic.[5]​ Pneumatic covers are those supported by air, since the perpendicular effort is achieved with excess air pressure. Tensioned covers are those that use masts, tensioners and cables to tension the fabric at its ends in opposite directions and directions, even out of plane.

Some of the main reasons that favor the use of textile covers are the following:.

Today, textile structures are found in almost all climatic zones of the world and serve a wide variety of functions. The materials used to manufacture these membranes have changed a lot since their beginnings; highly technological fabrics can now be found.

The materials commonly used in the construction of membranes reflect more than 75% of incident solar energy (absorb 17% and transmit 13% of incident sunlight), which makes them very effective as "Roof (construction)" roofs in temperate, tropical and arid zones. But they also work well in temperate zones, combined with other construction systems.

Currently, textile architecture is no longer used exclusively for the creation of tensioned roofs, but is also beginning to be used to cover the facades of buildings, "pneumatic roofs" using ETFE cushions. In addition, it has reached the industrial market, for the creation of large covered spaces, storage silos, gas tanks, etc.

La forma y el comportamiento físico de las estructuras textiles difieren mucho de las convencionales estructuras de pórtico rígidas que se usan en la mayoría de los edificios. Los proyectistas de las estructuras textiles tienen en cuenta tres factores estructurales fundamentales: la elección de la forma superficial, los niveles de pretensado y la deformidad de la superficie. Hay que considerar también el ambiente interior, al igual que la elección del tipo concreto y la transparencia de la membrana que se vaya a utilizar.

Surface shape

Most contemporary textile structures are based on an anticlastic surface geometry. There are four generic types of anticlastic surfaces in common use: the cone, the saddle, the hyperbolic paraboloid and the parallel valley cone. In essence, each of them is made up of four warped elements, in which the degree of warping depends on the choice of the perimeter conditions. It is up to the designer to choose a set of boundary conditions in the process of defining the shape of the membrane. The perimeter conditions are the arrangements of all the elements that are in contact with the membrane and support the cables, masts, arches, beams, etc. Therefore, each surface is the result of the choice of certain boundary conditions.

Prestressed

Prestress contributes significantly to the stiffness of a membrane, because its curvature components interact to retain what would otherwise be significant deformations, typical of flat or cylindrical surfaces. The prestress values ​​used in practice represent a small proportion of the ultimate resistance of the membrane. It is a commitment on the part of the designer to choose the appropriate prestressing force for each installation. It must be low enough so that the membrane installation process is not very complicated and it must be high enough to maintain sufficient prestress after fatigue losses of the membrane material over time.

Deformity

Unlike what happens in more conventional building construction methods, deformity is considered a useful and important characteristic of textile structures. Furthermore, the deformations that develop in the membrane material are greater in magnitude than, for example, steel. All of this has the beneficial effect that the stresses do not increase linearly with applied loads due to the geometric changes that occur on the surface as a whole.

For example, when the wind blows over a conical membrane "Cone (geometry)"), it causes the articulated mast to tilt downwind, allowing changes in the curvature of the windward surface that attenuate the increase in membrane tensions in that area, while the curvatures of the leeward membrane "Lee (sea)") act to stabilize the mast.

Indoor environment

Textile architecture builds with flexible membranes that allow great architectural freedom, natural lighting inside and the enhancement of the roof surfaces. Natural light is inseparable from textile architecture, it is its main advantage. Natural lighting largely determines the visual comfort of users and is an element that structures a project. In a growing number of countries, official recommendations, via regulatory texts, promote the contribution of natural light.

The natural light generated by a textile cover plays a decisive role in terms of safety. It offers overhead light that is distributed over the entire surface of the roof, thus avoiding shadow areas in the work and storage stations.

Once the structure is designed, the manufacturing and installation process begins. The membrane "Membrane (structure)") used for the manufacture of tensioned structures is usually supplied in rolls. These are cut on automated cutting plotters, following the "Pattern (sewing)" pattern developed by the designer. Once the patterns are cut, they must be joined together to form the membrane. There are different ways to join the cloths, depending on the type of work and the fabric chosen. There are joints sewn, high frequency welded, hot wedge, hot air, hot irons, ultrasound, glued, etc. Once the membrane is made, the different accessories that allow it to be attached to the perimeter masts must be attached.

To do this, a type of flexible or rigid edge is installed on the perimeter of the membrane that allows the normal or tangential stresses of the membrane to be transferred to the edge system. The curved flexible edges allow for pre-tensioning of the fabric as a result of the tensile force applied to the edge element, while the rigid edges support the fabric continuously by a support structure&action=edit&redlink=1 "Support (architecture) (not yet drafted)"), which has higher lateral stiffness compared to that of the fabric. For both cases there is a wide variety of solutions and finishes that affect the perimeter construction of the fabric. At the vertices of these surfaces are the so-called fists. The membrane forces flow to the edge cables, which in turn transmit them to the cuffs and these transfer them to the support structure. The cuffs perform different functions throughout their life. They are metal pieces with strange shapes, which can damage the canvas if great care is not taken in handling and installing them on the membrane before assembly. On site, they are stoked to help with the installation and prestressing of the structure. Subsequently, they have to remain active during their service life, as an articulated part of the structure that moves in accordance with the membrane.

Finally there are the masts, which can be intermediate or perimeter. Intermediate masts usually have a metal ring at the top that allows the membrane tension level to be controlled. This ring, through threaded systems, cables or pneumatic systems, gives the appropriate tension to the membrane. Perimeter masts are usually pivoting-articulated masts that are stabilized by cables, with their corresponding tensioners that tension the mast to stabilize the fabric and give it the appropriate tension.

Once the manufacturing of the membrane and all its accessories is finished, the packaging and transportation to the installation site remains. Packaging is a very important part of the process. It must be packaged in such a way as to protect each part of the membrane from possible friction and knocks. But, above all, it must be folded in a way that facilitates installation on the construction site. That is, it must be folded as indicated by the designer, since he knows how the membrane is going to be installed in the structure: which will be the vertex that will be installed first and which will be the last, if it will be extended completely or if it will be unrolled with rollers and crane "Crane (machine)"). This way, the membrane will be protected during the installation process.

The installation process must be anticipated during the design of the structure, especially if it is large. An appropriate method must be developed, taking into account all the working conditions, the stability of the structure step by step, the handling of the material, the location of the work and the weather conditions during the lifting period). dimensional accuracy of the position of the support system points, as well as the correct placement of the plates and connection anchors. During the membrane lifting process, it may be necessary to use a cross bar to prevent damage from occurring. It is very important to take into account the weather conditions on the days in which the structures are lifted, and the lifting should not be carried out if the winds are higher than 25 km/h.

The codified classification established by the Institute of Construction Specifications CSI (Construction Specifications Institute")), together with the Construction Specifications of Canada CSC (Construction Specifications Canada), is as follows:[11]​[12]​[13]​.

The previous codings were:

The fabrics that can be used are numerous:[14]​ PES-PVC, ETFE, silicone, PVDF, waterproof, openwork "Openwork (nautical)"), colored and others. Depending on the use and location of the installation, the risk of snowfall and the average outdoor temperature, among other factors, one or the other is used. You can even use several membranes, with intermediate or insulating air chambers, to provide greater thermal protection.