ABSTRACT
For constructional and architectural coated fabrics, resistance to fatigue and time related fatigue become very important. The chapter shows typical properties of coated and laminated fabrics made with Trevirafi polyester. Coated fabrics made of synthetic fibers have replaced conventional canvas cloth, which is generally made of cotton, almost in every application. There are several advantages of using a textile structure in buildings. Membrane structures can be divided into four categories: tent, clear-span, air and tensile structures. Some manufacturers categorize membrane structures by temporary or permanent usage. The chapter provides major functional requirements for permanent architectural fabrics. Mainly three types of stresses act on an architectural fabric: stresses due to applied load to tension the fabric; weight of suspended fabric; stresses induced by natural forces due to wind, rain and snow. Tension structure designers use Computer Aided Design systems to calculate loads and determine their effects on the designs before building the structure itself.
