RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

MATERIALS FOR TENSAIRITY STRUCTURES

A transparent Tensairity girder with a cable net reinforced hull. Prospective concepts AG, 2004.

FOLDABLE TENSAIRITY GIRDERS

Development of foldable Tensairity structures. Prospective concepts AG, 2005.

SPINDLE SHAPED TENSAIRITY GIRDERS

The Center for Synergetic Structures at Empa has set up dedicated test rigs to study the load bearing behaviour of spindle shaped Tensairity girders. Empa, 2006-2011.

TENSAIRITY SLAB

A tensairity slab, 3 m span, Empa, 2009

TENSAIRITY ACTUATOR

Tensairity actuator. A weight of 2.5 kg is lifted with an air pressure of 200 mbar. The actuator weights 300g. Empa, 2010.

TENSAIRITY ARCHES

The structural behaviour of a Tensairity arch with 10 m span for temporary tent structures was studied. The arch could sustain a homogeneous load of 35 kN. HP Gasser AG & Empa, 2010.

TENSAIRITY WING STRUCTURES

Tensairty kite with 8 m span and a total weight of 3 kg. Kites are currently investigated for harvesting wind energy by TwingTec AG. Empa, 2010.

DOWNLOADS

Luchsinger RH, Sydow A, Crettol R. Structural behavior of asymmetric spindle-shaped Tensairity girders under bending loads. Thin-Walled Structures 2011 – Article in press. (PDF)

Wever TE, Plagianakos TS, Luchsinger RH, Marti P. Effect of fabric webs on the static response of spindle-shaped tensairity columns. Journal of Structural Engineering 2010;136(4):410-418. (PDF)

Luchsinger RH, Pedretti A, Pedretti M, Steingruber P. The new structural concept Tensairity: Basic principles. SEMC 2004, The Second International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation. Cape Town, South Africa, 2004. (PDF)

TENSAIRITY PUBLICATIONS

JOURNAL ARTICLES

  • Galliot, C., and Luchsinger, R.H. (2013) Structural behavior of symmetric spindle-shaped Tensairity girders with reinforced chord coupling. Engineering Structures 56, 407-416.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., and Galliot, C. (2013) Structural behavior of symmetric spindle-shaped Tensairity girders. Journal of Structural Engineering 139(2), 169-179.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Sydow, A. and Crettol, R. (2011) Structural behavior of asymmetric spindle-shaped Tensairity girders under bending loads. Thin-walled structures 49(9), 1045-1053.
  • Breuer, J.M.C., and Luchsinger, R.H. (2010) Inflatable kites using the concept of Tensairity. Aerospace Science and Technology 14(8), 557-563.
  • Wever, T.E., Plagianakos, T.S., Luchsinger, R.H., and Marti, P. (2010) Effect of fabric webs on the static response of spindle-shaped Tensairity columns. Journal of Structural Engineering 136(4), 410-418.
  • De Laet, L., Luchsinger, R.H., Crettol, R., Mollaert, M. and De Temmermann, N. (2009) Deployable Tensairity Structures. Journal of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures 50 (2), 121-128.
  • Galliot, C., Luchsinger, R.H. (2009) A simple model describing the non-linear biaxial tensile behavior of PVC-coated polyester fabrics for use in finite element analysis. Composite Structures 90 (4), 438-447.
  • Plagianakos, T.S., Teutsch, U., Crettol R. and Luchsinger, R.H. (2009) Static response of a spindle-shaped Tensairity column to axial compression. Engineering Structures 31 (8), 1822-1831.
  • Luchsinger, R.H. and Crettol, R. (2006) Experimental and numerical study of spindle shaped Tensairity girders. International Journal of Space Structures 21 (3), 119-130.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Pedretti, M. and Reinhard, A. (2004) Pressure induced stability: from pneumatic structures to Tensairitiy. Journal of Bionics Engineering 1, 141-148.

CONFERENCE PAPERS

  • Maffei, R., Galliot, C., Luchsinger, R.H., Zanelli, A. (2013) Comparative study about the behaviour of inflatable and Tensairity arches. IASS Symposium 2013, Wroclaw, Poland.
  • Roekens, J., Mollaert, M., De Laet, L., Luchsinger, R.H. (2013) Experimental investigations of Tensairity arches. Tensinet Symposium 2013, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Galliot, C. (2013) From roofs to wings: Lightweight inflatable structures are taking off. Tensinet Symposium 2013, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • De Laet, L., Mollaert, M., Roekens, J., Luchsinger, R.H. (2012) Experimental investigation of a full scale deployable Tensairity beam. Proceedings of the IASS-APCS Symposium 2012, Seoul, South-Korea.
  • Klis, R., Chatzi, E., Galliot, C., Luchsinger, R.H., Feltrin G. (2012) Dynamic response and modal identification of a Tensairity girder. EMI-PMC 2012, Notre Dame, US.
  • Galliot, C., Luchsinger, R.H. (2012) Non-linear tensile and shear biaxial behaviour of coated fabrics used in Tensairity structures: testing and modelling. International Textile Conference, Dresden, D
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Galliot, C. (2012) Strong & light: Inflatable structures with Tensairity, Proceedings of SAMPE 2012, Baltimore, US
  • Galliot, C., Luchsinger, R.H. (2011) Determination of the response of coated fabrics under biaxial stress: Comparison between different test procedures. Proceedings of Structural Membranes 2011, paper 253.
  • De Leat, L., Moellaert, M., Roekens, J., Luchsinger, R.H. (2011) Numerical investigations of the structural behaviour of a deployable Tensairity beam. Proceedings of Structural Membranes 2011, paper 301.
  • Roekens, J., Mollaert, M., De Laet, L., Luchsinger, R.H. (2011) Preliminary investigations to Tensairity arches. Proceedings of Structural Membranes 2011, paper 300.
  • De Laet, L., Luchsinger, R.H., Mollaert, M., Roekens, J. (2011) Development of a deployable Tensairity beam. Proceedings of the IABSE-IASS Symposium 2011, London, paper 243.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Galliot, C., Gauthier, L. (2011) Effect of fabric webs on the static response of spindle-shaped Tensairity girders. Proceedings of the IABSE-IASS Symposium 2011, London, paper 285.
  • Roekens, J., Luchsinger, R.H., Mollaert, M., De Laet, L. (2011) Experimental investigation of a deployable Tensairity arch. Proceedings of the IABSE-IASS Symposium 2011, London, paper 321.
  • Crettol, R., Gaultier, L.P., Luchsinger, R.H., Vogler, R. (2010) Tensairity arches. Proceedings of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures IASS Symposium 2010, Shanghai.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Ulmann, C., Crettol, R., Gauthier, L.P. (2010) Straight and curved: Recent developments with Tensairity. Tensinet Symposium 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria.
  • Gauthier, L., Wever, T. and Luchsinger, R.H. (2009) Study of the buckling behavior of compression elements in Tensairity, In: Onate, E. & Kröplin, B. (eds.), Textile composites and inflatable structures IV, CIMNE, Stuttgart, Germany
  • Breuer, J. and Luchsinger, R.H. (2009) Inflatable kites with Tensairity, In: Onate, E. & Kröplin, B. (eds.), Textile composites and inflatable structures IV, CIMNE, Stuttgart, Germany
  • Galliot, C. and Luchsinger, R.H. (2009) Biaxial Tensile Testing and Non-Linear Modelling of PVC-Coated Polyester Fabrics for use in Tensairity Girders, In: Onate, E. & Kröplin, B. (eds.), Textile composites and inflatable structures IV, CIMNE, Stuttgart, Germany.
  • Luchsinger, R.H. and Teutsch, U. (2009) An analytical model for Tensairity girders. Proceedings of the 50th Anniversary Symposium of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures IASS 2009, Valencia, Spain.
  • Galliot C. and Luchsinger, R.H. (2009) Non-linear properties of coated fabrics used in Tensairity structures, 17th International Conference on Composite Materials ICCM17, Edinburgh.
  • Luchsinger, R. H., Crettol, R. and Plagianakos, T. S. (2008) Temporary structures with Tensairity. International Symposium IASS-SLTE 2008, 3rd Latin American Symposium on Tensile-Structures, Acapulco, Mexico.
  • De Laet, L., Luchsinger, R. H., Crettol, R., Mollaert, M. and De Temmermann, N. (2008) Deployable Tensairity structures. International Symposium IASS-SLTE 2008, 3rd Latin American Symposium on Tensile-Structures, Acapulco, Mexico.
  • Plagianakos, T.S., Luchsinger, R.H. and Crettol, R., (2008). Static response of a spindle shaped Tensairity column under compression: A Numerical – Experimental Study. 8th World Congress on Computational Mechanics (WCCM8); 5th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering (ECCOMAS 2008), Venice.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Crettol, R., Farahni J. and Plagianakos, T. (2007) Tensairity: The new structure for a new architecture. Conference Proceedings IASS 07, Venice.
  • Plagianakos, T. and Luchsinger, R. (2007) Static response of a spindle shaped Tensairity column under compression. Conference Proceedings IASS 07, Venice.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Crettol, R. and Plagianakos, T. (2007): The new lightweight structure Tensairity. Proceedings of the Structural Engineers World Congress 2007, Bangalore, India.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Crettol, R, Farahani, J and Plagianakos, T.  (2007) Tension, Air and Integrity. 102-105. In: Onate E. and Kröplin B. (Eds.) Textile composites and inflatable structures III. CIMNE, Barcelona.
  • Plagianakos, T.S., Luchsinger, R.H. and Crettol, R. (2007) Deformation of spindle shaped Tensairity columns under compression.  COMP-07: 6th International Symposium on Advanced Composite Technologies, Corfu, GR. Paper No. 83.
  • Breuer, J., Ockels, W. and Luchsinger, R.H. (2007) An inflatable wing using the principle of Tensairity. Proceedings of the 48th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC structures, structural dynamics and materials conference, Hawaii.
  • Luchsinger, R.H. and Crettol, R. (2007) Synergetic Structures and Tensairity, 207-216. In: Bögner-Balz, H. and Zanelli, A. (Eds.) Ephemeral architecture – Time and Textiles, Tensinet Symposium 2007, Libreria Clup, Milano.
  • Luchsinger, R.H. and Crettol, R. (2006) The role of fabrics in Tensairity. Proceedings of the IASS-APCS Symposium 2006, 154-155, Beijing.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., & Crettol, R. (2006) Adaptable Tensairity. In: Scheublin, F., Pronk, A., Borgard, A., & Houtman, R. (Eds.), Proceedings of the joint CIB, Tensinet, IASS International Conference on Adaptability in Design and Construction, Vol. 2, 3-7,  Eindhoven.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Crettol, R., Steingruber, P., Pedretti, A. and Pedretti, M. (2005) Going strong: from inflatable structures to Tensairity. In: Onate, E. & Kröplin, B. (eds.), Textile composites and inflatable structures II, 414-420, CIMNE, Barcelona.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Steingruber, P., Pedretti, A., Pedretti, M. & Crettol, R. (2005) Computation of Tensairity Structures. In: Ramm, E., Wall, W.A., Bletzinger, K.-U. & Bischoff, M. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Computation of Shell and Spatial Structures, Salzburg.
  • Luchsinger, R.H., Pedretti, A., Steingruber, P.  & Pedretti, M. (2004) Light weigth structures with Tensairity. In  Motro, R. (Ed.), Shell and Spacial Structures from Models to Realizations, Editions de l’Espérou, Montpellier.
  • Luchsinger, R.H.,  Pedretti, A.,  Pedretti, M. and Steingruber, P. (2004) The new structural concept Tensairity: Basic principles. In:  Zingoni, A. (Ed.), Progress in Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, A.A. Balkema Publisher, London.
  • Pedretti, A., Steingruber, P., Pedretti, M. and Luchsinger, R.H. (2004) The new structural concept Tensairity: FE-modeling and applications. In: Zingoni, A. (Ed.), Progress in Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, A.A. Balkema Publisher, London.

BOOK CHAPTERS

  • Luchsinger, R.H. (2013) The new light-weight structure Tensairity. In: Motro, R. (ed). Flexible composite materials in Architecture, Construction and Interiors, 100-111, Birkhäuser, Basel.
  • Luchsinger, R.H. & Bräker, M. (2010) A novel pneumatic actuator with Tensairity. In: Brebbia, C.A. (ed.), Design & Nature V, 365-374WIT Press, Southampton.