Membranes for Structures: Fundamentals (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780443224072)

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. Membranes for Structures: Fundamentals begins with a brief historical review of membrane structures' development. Part One follows, discussing design fundamentals in the light of recent experiences and modern technological tools. Part Two updates knowledge of products and materials, with a special focus on multilayering, 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, life cycle analysis and monitoring, pre-stressing. A look into the future is proposed in Part Four, where some interesting, present-day studies on sustainable building systems engineering solutions are 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.