ABSTRACT
Tension structures refer to suspended or ‘tent-type’ structures in which the ‘ties’, i.e. members designed to carry tension, are major elements in the overall structure. Tension structures differ from conventional framed-structures in two important respects: the structural concept is explicit in the architecture, and the detailing of the connection between the tension and compression elements can be more complex. The design of a tension structure requires careful thought about load paths, stability, flexibility of the system, cladding interfaces and foundation design.
