Woodhead Publishing Membranes for Structures: Fundamentals (Woodhead Publishing Series in Civil and Structural Engineering)

A growing use of membranes for construction purposes has recently been encouraged by their environmentally friendly characteristics. To offer a timely and extensive, research-grounded compendium on structures made with fabrics and foils, the most relevant facets of the state of the art are covered in two sister titles. After a moving remembrance of Marc Malinowski, a great promoter of membrane structures, Membranes for Structures ― Fundamentals begins with a brief historical review of the development of design tools for membrane structures. Part One follows, discussing design fundamentals in the light of recent experiences and modern technologies. Part Two updates knowledge of products and materials, with a special focus on fire performance, the incorporation of photovoltaic cells, and ETFE. Part Three deals with other considerations related to design and installation, such as acoustic performance, post-failure stability, wind loads and lifecycle analysis, with special mentions of textile halls and biogas containers. A look into the future is proposed in Part Four, where some interesting, present-day research on ageing and applications is included. The well-amalgamated contributions, authored by international experts, produce a comprehensive reference to keep students and researchers as well as industry professionals and various other stakeholders abreast with the latest advancements. Incorporates recent developments that are poorly documented in other literature available Contains comprehensive information on form-finding and design with modern software, use of the latest materials and elements of support, and other valuable details for optimized construction Published alongside its sister title, Membranes for Structures ― Applications (ISBN: 9780443224058)