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The cables on the roof are covered with a protective fabric and
when neceassry are held together where they cross with metal
clamps (top left). To drain rainwater off of the roof there are
drains in the small brick wall that hides the compression ring
that the cables are attached to at the base of the roof mem-
brane (top right). There are also larger drains that lead off of
the small brick wall that are hidden by brick turning them into
asthetic elements (far right).
Texas Tech The Texas Tech practice field uses a very similar structural sys-
Practice Field tem as many larger pneumatic structures. The roof is air sup-
ported and the field itself is below grade making the low profile
Lubbock, Texas pneumatic roof appear to be a high profile pneumatic structure.
Revolving doors are used at grade to enter the building (right).
The larger loading bay doors are sealed off from the main field
so they can be opened for extended periods without deflating
the roof.
1 2.3
rial by using low pressure air to prevent compression elements
from buckling”. A Tensairity beam consists of a cylindrical
membrane filled with pressurized air, a compression element
tighly connected to the airbeam, and two cables running in a
helical form around the airbeam. (greenlineblog.com)
The structure of the Tubaloon was desgined by Tensairity’s
creator’s son Andrea Pedretti. He and one of SNØHETTA AS
architects, Teas, adapted the traditional Tensairity beam, but
instead of using helical cables he used galvanized-steel arma-
tures. This meathod uses Tensairity beams composed of seg-
ments with brackets, which the air tub es nestle into. Instead
of a by-the-book application of Tensairity, Tubaloon represents
“an inflatable, tension-membrane structure in which most of the
supporting structure is internalized,” Teas explains. The frame
mounts to two poured-concrete foundation pads, with four
additional connection points for cables and a compressor that
maintains air pressure. (archrecord.construction.com)
The Tubaloon
Architect:SNØHETTA AS
Location:Kongsberg, Norway
Typology:Performance Shelter
Client:Kongsberg Jazz Festival
Completed: June 2006
Pneumatic Roof Structures using a large pneumatic roof span require the In order to push and keep air inside the structure, a hole was
Study Model spanned space to be constantly pressurized. Although this
pressure can be felt when it is let out of the space, it is not to
left in one of the corners of the membrane. This hole was made
to seal around the air pump. We discovered that the air pump
Based on Metrodome and large of an amount to be maintained by small compressors and put out so much air that as long as the air flow was pointed at
Practice Field fans. For scaled down versions of pneumatc structure like our the hole, no seal was required unless the roof was loaded. The
study models a regular air mattress pump provides the plenty combination of the duct tape (compression ring) and the string
of air pressure. This pump is used in the same way as a larger (steel cables) kept the membrane sealed against the base
version in the way it provides a constant stream of pressure. allowing it to hold pressure.
Above is a study model of a pneumatic roof span. The Weight tests were undertaken to see how much live load the
membrane is relatively thin clear vinyl cut to the shape of the roof could hold. These tests are representative of the live loads
base. The base is a geometric shape as suggested in our of snow and ice that can cause a collapse in pneumatic roof
research. String was used in place of the cables that would structures. Various loads were added and were all held up by
normally span the roof in order to hold the membrane down the roof. If scaled these loads would be more than would ever
and keep it from breaking free from the compression ring. In be put on a real roof span. This model served its purpose in
this model duct tape along the bottom of the base acts as the that it educated us on the potential of air pressure and showed
compression ring. us that air tight seals are not completely necessary.
1 3.2
Seam Reseach We began to look at how air tight seals were made on high
profile structures that did not involve compression rings or
Bouncehouses cables. On the Texas Tech University campus there were mul-
tiple inflatable bounce houses setup for an advertising event.
These structures showed us an example of how seals could
be made between various pieces of membrane. There are two
kinds of seals: hidden inside seals and visible exterior seals.
Both of these seals are done by stiching the edges together.
The interior seals are stiched then turned inside out in order to
hide the edges of membrane. The exterior seals must be visible
however because it is difficult to stich inside of a closed object.
The fan used to inflate these structures seems relatively small
compared to the size of the structures. Also we noticed that the
seals are not completely airtight in every instance. There is a
small amount of air that is always escaping from somewhere
but it is a negligible amount and does not cause the structure to
deflate.
1 3.3
Air Tight Seam Our initial attempt at sealing membrane together was done us- To inflate these heat sealed elements a small hole was left
Studies ing heat. Using heat to melt the edges together seemed like the
most effective way to get a completely air tight seal. To melt the
along one edge and a straw was placed inside this hole.
Inside
Seam
Outside
Seam
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1 3.3
Seam Test Hicaelic astarta tiamdi priont. Musper alis. Eperra? interae diu-
saticaet viliem us. mentiam probutebatum habus, crum. Seredi-
Hicaelic astarta tiamdi priont. Musper alis. Eperra? interae diu-
saticaet viliem us. mentiam probutebatum habus, crum. Seredi-
Clear Vinal+Thread emus, Patuus, dientea rendam los int. Simantius hos cum emus, Patuus, dientea rendam los int. Simantius hos cum
optiquis. Habus it facie firimus atilis egervid cureortua tre dem optiquis. Habus it facie firimus atilis egervid cureortua tre dem
medient ervivignocae autem esenaribus, senditri, coentiam medient ervivignocae autem esenaribus, senditri, coentiam
pubissa inte firi por quit. Habit vivis, qua primili capere, etod reo pubissa inte firi por quit. Habit vivis, qua primili capere, etod reo
conox ne querferibem inc facies vis. Acta, quam ocrum mus fue conox ne querferibem inc facies vis. Acta, quam ocrum mus fue
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Hicaelic astarta tiamdi priont. Musper alis. Eperra? interae diu- Hicaelic astarta tiamdi priont. Musper alis. Eperra? interae diu-
saticaet viliem us. mentiam probutebatum habus, crum. Seredi- saticaet viliem us. mentiam probutebatum habus, crum. Seredi-
emus, Patuus, dientea rendam los int. Simantius hos cum emus, Patuus, dientea rendam los int. Simantius hos cum
optiquis. Habus it facie firimus atilis egervid cureortua tre dem optiquis. Habus it facie firimus atilis egervid cureortua tre dem
medient ervivignocae autem esenaribus, senditri, coentiam medient ervivignocae autem esenaribus, senditri, coentiam
pubissa inte firi por quit. Habit vivis, qua primili capere, etod reo pubissa inte firi por quit. Habit vivis, qua primili capere, etod reo
conox ne querferibem inc facies vis. Acta, quam ocrum mus fue conox ne querferibem inc facies vis. Acta, quam ocrum mus fue
hi, cuppliust nonclartum hactem nu quis laritemnes es murn hi, cuppliust nonclartum hactem nu quis laritemnes es murn
1 4.0
Materials
Research
Bowers Airplane Project
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1 4.2
Materials Study Hicaelic astarta tiamdi priont. Musper alis. Eperra? interae diu-
saticaet viliem us. mentiam probutebatum habus, crum. Seredi-
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Membrane Materials emus, Patuus, dientea rendam los int. Simantius hos cum emus, Patuus, dientea rendam los int. Simantius hos cum
optiquis. Habus it facie firimus atilis egervid cureortua tre dem optiquis. Habus it facie firimus atilis egervid cureortua tre dem
medient ervivignocae autem esenaribus, senditri, coentiam medient ervivignocae autem esenaribus, senditri, coentiam
pubissa inte firi por quit. Habit vivis, qua primili capere, etod reo pubissa inte firi por quit. Habit vivis, qua primili capere, etod reo
conox ne querferibem inc facies vis. Acta, quam ocrum mus fue conox ne querferibem inc facies vis. Acta, quam ocrum mus fue
hi, cuppliust nonclartum hactem nu quis laritemnes es murn hi, cuppliust nonclartum hactem nu quis laritemnes es murn
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saticaet viliem us. mentiam probutebatum habus, crum. Seredi- saticaet viliem us. mentiam probutebatum habus, crum. Seredi-
emus, Patuus, dientea rendam los int. Simantius hos cum emus, Patuus, dientea rendam los int. Simantius hos cum
optiquis. Habus it facie firimus atilis egervid cureortua tre dem optiquis. Habus it facie firimus atilis egervid cureortua tre dem
medient ervivignocae autem esenaribus, senditri, coentiam medient ervivignocae autem esenaribus, senditri, coentiam
pubissa inte firi por quit. Habit vivis, qua primili capere, etod reo pubissa inte firi por quit. Habit vivis, qua primili capere, etod reo
conox ne querferibem inc facies vis. Acta, quam ocrum mus fue conox ne querferibem inc facies vis. Acta, quam ocrum mus fue
hi, cuppliust nonclartum hactem nu quis laritemnes es murn hi, cuppliust nonclartum hactem nu quis laritemnes es murn
1 4.3
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1 5.0