Abstract

Sum mary The /lrstp.rt ofthl. paper provides some basic Information on cunent teltlle material nsed In the manufacture of membranes, (oiether with some detalllng, In special the dlllerent.ystems orlolnlnK. The second part describes some oftbe mo,t recent membrane,de,lgned by the auilior, glvin!! special attenUon to the most Innovatol'! ' aspects. 1. INTRODUCflON According to their definition, membrane structures carry loads by membrane forces only, with no or only insignificant bending. If tensile and compressive membrane forces are permitted, we speak of shells. If the compressive forces are eliminated, we speak of tensile membrane structures. Their aim is to actually ' realize the surface itself with a material which is able to carry tensile forces only, in order to achieve extre-me lightness or even translucence. In order to eliminate the compressive forces in the membrane structure, they are to be pretensioned or