Application of digital tools in the fabrication of tubular tensioned structures

Abstract

Tensile structures have been around since the ancient times, when they were used for tent construction. Their application in the recent history can be observed in Frei Otto’s examples. However, all recent examples do not portray a clearly defined design approach that can yield predictable results, but are rather based on empirical data. In this paper, the focus is placed on the application of advanced digital tools and optimization process in order to simulate tensile structures in the digital environment and fabricate them in reality following the computed data.