STRUCTURAL MEMBRANES 2023

Designing A Large Span Structures Under Seismic Loading – A Case Study

  • DANSIK, Fevzi (AG Tensioned Structures)
  • SAHIN, Meltem (Mimar Sinan Fine Art University)
  • SAMAT, Necati Caglar (AG Tensioned Structures)

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Structural membranes are becoming more popular systems in long span structures such as amphitheatre, stadium, performance centre, sport halls, with their ability to cover long distances through lightweight solutions. The membrane material which has no flexural rigidity and neglectable weight has sufficient strength when stretched. Regarding both aesthetically and economically aspects, the membrane structures are not only an economical solution, but also they contribute to reducing the total weight of the structure, which is a very important feature especially under earthquake loads. Another issue in membrane-covered structures such as the amphitheatre is acoustic performance, which is an important one for the structure to meet serviceability requirements. In this paper, an amphitheatre structure (shown in Figure 1) was chosen as a case study to show the design process of membrane covered roof structure framed with steel structural system. This structure has some challenging features such as its 94 m wide span arch. The structure has suffered by two major earthquakes after two years from its completion. It’s a pleasure to see that there is no structural damage while the region suffered a great catastrophe. The aim of this paper is to show the design, analysis, material selection, manufacturing and the installation process of this challenging structure and evaluate of the gains in correct design and application under seismic loads.