Editing Tensile structure (section)

== History ==

This form of construction has only become more rigorously analyzed and widespread in large structures in the latter part of the twentieth century. Tensile structures have long been used in [[tent]]s, where the [[guy rope]]s and tent poles provide pre-tension to the fabric and allow it to withstand loads.

Russian engineer [[Vladimir Shukhov]] was one of the first to develop practical calculations of stresses and deformations of tensile structures, shells and membranes. Shukhov designed eight tensile structures and [[thin-shell structure]]s exhibition pavilions for the [[Nizhny Novgorod Fair of 1896]], covering the area of 27,000 square meters. A more recent large-scale use of a membrane-covered tensile structure is the [[Sidney Myer Music Bowl]], constructed in 1958.

[[Antonio Gaudi]] used the concept in reverse to create a compression-only structure for the [[Colonia Guell Church]]. He created a hanging tensile model of the church to calculate the compression forces and to experimentally determine the column and vault geometries.

The concept was later championed by [[Germany|German]] architect and engineer [[Frei Otto]], whose first use of the idea was in the construction of the [[Expo 67 pavilions#National pavilions|West German pavilion at Expo 67]] in Montreal. Otto next used the idea for the roof of the Olympic Stadium for the [[1972 Summer Olympics]] in [[Munich]].

Since the 1960s, [[tension (mechanics)|tensile]] structures have been promoted by [[design]]ers and [[engineer]]s such as [[Ove Arup]], [[Buro Happold]], [[Frei Otto]], [[Mahmoud Bodo Rasch]], [[Eero Saarinen]], [[Horst Berger]], [[Matthew Nowicki]], [[Jorg Schlaich|Jörg Schlaich]], and [[David Geiger]].

Steady technological progress has increased the popularity of fabric-roofed structures. The low weight of the materials makes construction easier and cheaper than standard designs, especially when vast open spaces have to be covered.