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Mehler Texnologies Technical guideline to permanent tensile architectures structure structure ® VALMEX 1st Edition 2 Contents The following information is intend- Our intention is to support architects, ed as a basic guide for architects engineers and generally all those who and engineers to assist in concept approach the technical and commer- design and in specifying materials, cial aspects of membrane structures in order to get enough preliminary solutions. background for planning activities. General introduction 4 The Fabric – Material properties 6 Material types 7 General performances 10 Special materials application – Facades 12 Environment and sustainability 13 Design 14 Manufacture and installation 17 Maintenance 19 Frequently asked questions 21 3 Brief introduction to the tensile art of construction Tensile architecture is probably fabric materials in modern architect- one of the oldest methods used ure can shape space, enabling to provide protection from adverse architects to sculpt 3-dimensional climatic conditions and against areas in a manner that is not possible predator attack. The humble ‘conic’ with any other type of material. This tent is the simplest form of tensile kind of architecture is offering much structure, and excelled where two more: the designer is able to play conditions prevailed: a shortage of with light and use this for natural building material and a need for illumination of the space, softening mobility. Evidence has been found it, fusing it, sharpening it or shaping Example of primordial tent which confirms that humans have it. This creates mood and ambience construction using animal skin. been making tents for at least 15,000 to reflect architectural intent, re- years, initially using animal skins, and sulting in an energy saving covering only 3000 years later, incorporating system, by approaching the element- woven fabrics. One of the first appli- ary need of being in touch with cations of tensile technology came nature. The dynamic shape and form at the very beginning by transferring of membranes allow new possibilities sailing principles. The spectators to become reality. at Roman amphitheatres (e.g. the Coliseum) were protected against the In no other sector of architecture do sun by retractable sheets of fabrics form and load distribution depend on roofs, supported by timber masts and each other as greatly as they do in cotton fibre ropes as operated by membrane construction. Hence, these sailors. Differing forms depended on represent the perfect marriage between different materials available at the architecture and engineering. time – for example the American In- dian Tepee, the Bedouin tents or the As in nature, the course of forces Mongolian Yurt. These forms have that are shown in the form and shape developed over time, using more can fascinate not only architects and advanced materials and construction engineers, but also the wider public methods into larger and more diverse as well, especially those who can structures such as the Canada Golf appreciate the equilibrium between Dome in Beijing, China. Modern aesthetics and functionality. Example of modern tensile architecture 4 About Mehler Texnologies The Company Mehler Texnologies − always „one of the first“ Mehler Texnologies is one of the Mehler Texnologies, as a pioneer in internationally leading companies this area started in 1944 with the 1944 on the market for coated fabrics. coating of PVC-Polyester membranes Start manufacturing of PVC-coated We produce in our facilities in Hückel- and were “one of the first” to im- fabrics hoven and Fulda in Germany as well prove the special PVDF lacquering 1954 as in Lomnice in Czech Republic and techniques, today synonymous with Technical coating of Polyester base distribute annually more than 50 long-term cleanability and added fabric million m² material under the brand long term UV protection. 1969 names VALMEX®, POLYMAR® and Mehler Texnologies has acquired a Lacquering of tarpaulins by means AIRTEX®. Our customers are found in wide range of expertise and experience of acryl top coat processing industries. More than 60 in the field of membrane architecture 1993 years of development and product- materials and is specialized in textile First coating based on Polyolefine ion experience are the basis for our products for particular uses. (PVC-free). Environmental recycling mature products. Continued research concept standards introduced and development improve existing Our capabilities at a glance: 1994 compound materials and open new First weldable PVDF-lacquer application areas. 50 million m² fabrics VALMEX® MEHATOP F comes into approx. 600 employees worldwide production A stable quality for all our products 3 production facilities 2004 is achieved by our state-of-the-art 9 sales companies Designed and produced new revolu- weaving and coating machines. 7 sales offices and sales partners tionary lightweight banner material Constant quality monitoring in our around the world for digital printing (AIRTEX® GT and laboratories, intense dialogues with Our goal, serve the specialized AIRTEX® magic) planners, manufactures and pro- customer. 2006 cessors in different market segments First coating of polyester base fabric and industry branches prove our Mehler Texnologies is your with temperature and chemical resis- close and trusting cooperation with specialist for coated fabrics and tant Fluorsynthetic base THV our customers. technical textile materials. Biaxial strenght test Weaving loom (high speed) Precision coating plant Manufacturing of coated fabrics is committed to Tear strength test Spread the coating highest quality standards. 5 The Fabric – Materials properties A coated structural fabric usually increasing and perfecting those consists of a woven base cloth materials in each aspect. stabilized and protected by a coating on both sides. The base cloth consists There is a wide range of products of warp threads running the length which are very suitable for particu- of the roll and weft threads running lar uses, depending on the specific across the width. A mesh fabric is a project needs and the particular coated cloth with spacing between defined use (ex. façade shadowing the thread bundles. or roof covering, etc.). Regardless of Sometimes mesh fabric can also refer the fact that each material can be to a woven shade cloth where pre- used for textile roofing we suggest coated threads are woven into cloth. our customer contact the specialized industry and proceed to this choice For the engineering of tension struc- after particular analysis of all project tures, the most common choices are characteristics, in order to assure the PVC coated Polyester cloth materi- best possible decision taking into als. High quality low-wick treated account the aesthetics, the mecha- PVC-Polyester fabrics generally have nical/static load properties and the a structural lifespan in excess of 20 economical aspect of the project. years. On ordinary materials the plas- ticizers in the PVC migrate towards the surface over a period of time top coat making the surface harder to clean. primer The PVC coating contains additives main coat that include UV stabilisers, fire adhesion layer retardants, colouring and fungicidal base fabric agents. Mehler Texnologies quality adhesion layer materials under the brand name main coat VALMEX® MEHATOP are a choice of protective PVDF (Fluorinated Poly- primer mer) lacquers that enhance the top coat cleanability of the PVC membrane. Typical section of Mehler coated PVC-Polyester fabric To improve this and maintain trans- lucency, Mehler is offering a range of products including PVDF lacquer Conventional MEHATOP F on both material sides, perfectly immediatly weldable. The choice of a suitable after soiling after 1d material is dictated by many charac- at 70°C after 2d teristics, ranging from technical at 70°C and mechanical properties to the after 3d at 70°C aesthetical appearance, coming from after 7d physical material properties. at 70°C after 10d at 70°C after 14d The textile industry is constantly at 70°C not improving the existing materials. cleaned Mehler Texnologies as a pioneer soiled cleaned Non low-wick base fabric absorbs liquids and properties. the membrane degenerate fabric producer is continuously a barrier to Low-wick base fabric generate of liquids assuring the original infiltration properties. membrane Comparison between low-wick and non low- wick base fabric 6 Materials types In the architectural segment, mem- warp direction (length of the material textile architecture engineer or branes made by Mehler Texnologies roll) has less stretch to stabilize the specialized manufacturer. are multilayered composite materials elongation in this sense. The weft with special densely woven low-wick direction (the width side of the mater- This requires a certain kind of techni- yarns in base fabric. The double thread ial roll) has more stretch in order to cal information generated by com- woven fabric, commonly described absorb the orthogonal tension more puter analysis, simulation and testing as “Panama” weave, varies depending readily during the distensile install- processes, generated case by case for on the mechanical resistance reques- ation process* (see graphic below). each project. ted by the customers. The different membrane materials are graded by Professionals like to maneuver the Mehler Texnologies can provide to weight and strength, and an overview compensation ratio of the fabric the customer biaxial results for each of the standard types of materials is material during the
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