The behavior of fabric structures and of coated and uncoated fabric material under different loading conditions, prestress, snow and wind loads is described in general terms. The paper tries to explain some of the characteristics of fabric behavior using a triangular truss model that was originally proposed by Mef fert in 1978 for PVC-coated polyester fabric; the model has been modified to include slack-elastic material behavior. The limitations of this model are discussed, and a case is argued for a simple and adequate fabric model. To determine the required fabric parameters from simple tests, a possible strategy is outlined. Some reference is made to the current state of knowledge on the shear stiffness of coated fabrics and the need for more detailed studies is stated.
Alley, V.L., Jr. and R.W. Faison.1972. "Deceleration Fabric Constants Required by the Generahzed Form of Hooke's Law,"J. Aircraft, 9(3).
2.
(Anon.). 1981. Sonderforschungsbereich SFB64, Jahresbertcht 1981. Teilprojekt K4—Membranen , University of Stuttgart
3.
(Anon.) (undated, obtained c. 1980). Shear Stiffness of TYGADURE Fabrics Feasability Study, Internal Test Report, Fothergill and Harvey, Winsford, Cheshire, England.
4.
Culpin.1979. "The Shearing of Fabrics: A Novel Approach,"Journal of the Textile Institute, 70(3):81-88.
5.
Dimitrov, N. and H.J. Schock."Study on the Load-Extension Behaviour of Coated Fabrics with Special Reference to PTFE-Coated Glass-Fiber Fabric, Using the Meffert Model,"LSA '86 1st Internat Conference on Lightweight Structures in Architecture, Sydney, Austraha, 1986 .
6.
Haug, E. and G. Powell."Finite Element Analysis of Nonlinear Membrane Structures," Report No UC SESM 727, Structures and Materials Research. Dept. of Engineering, Struct Engineering Laboratory, Cahforma : Univerity of Berkeley.
7.
Hearle, J. W S., P. Grosberg and S. Backer.Structural Mechanics of Fibres, Yarns and FabncsNew York. Wiley-Interscience.
8.
Kilby, W.F.1963. "Planar Stress-Strain Relationships in Woven Fabrics,"Journal of the Textile Institute, 54(1):9-27.
9.
Losch, M.H.1971. Bestimmung der mechanischen Konstanten fuer einen zweidimensionalen, nichtlinearen, anisotropen, elastischen Stoff am Beispiel Beschichteter Gewebe, DissertationUniversitaet Stuttgart.
10.
Meffert B.1978Mechanische Eigenschaften PVC-beschichteter PolyestergewebeAachen: Inst. f Kunststoffverarbeitung (IKV), RWTH.
11.
Minami, H."Deflection and Tension Properties of Coated Fabrics Subjected to Lateral Pressure,"Proc. of Conf Engineering Software, University of Southampton, September, 1979.
12.
Otto, F.1980. Remarks on acceptable shear hmits for different types of fabricInstitut fuer Leichte Flaechentragwerke, Universitaet Stuttgart (verbatim).
13.
Peirce, F.T. and J.R. Womersley.1937. Cloth Geometry. A classic textile reprintManchester: The Textile Institute . (reprint 1978).
14.
Schock, H.J.1981. Fabric Study. Study on the Load-Extension Behavior of Coated Fabrics with Special Reference to PTFE-Coated Glass-Fiber FabricLondon: Ove Arup and Partners, Development Fund Project, Internal Report.
15.
Schock, H.J."Some General Remarks on the Structural Behavior and Load-Extension Characteristics of Coated Fabrics with Special Reference to PTFE-Coated Glass-Fiber Fabric,"ASCE Structures Congress '89, San Franscisco, California, May 15, 1989.
16.
Sinjab, H.1984. "The Behavior of Coated Fabrics as Thin Membrane Structures under Biaxial Stress," M.Sc. Thesis, The City University .
17.
Skelton, J.1980. "Shear of Woven Fabrics," in Mechanics of Flexible Fiber Assembhes. J. W. S. Hearle, J. J. Thwaitcs, et al., eds. pp. 211-227.
18.
Stubbs, N. and H. Fluss.1980. "A Space-Truss Model for Plain-Weave Coated Fabrics,"Applied Mathematical Modelhng , 4:51-58.
19.
Stubbs, N. and H. Fluss.1981. "A Nonlinear Anisotropic Constitutive Law for Fabrics,"Long Span Roof Structures. In Proc. of Symposium, St. Louis, Missouri, p. 259-297.
20.
Tan, K.Y. and M. Barnes."Numerical Representation of Stress/Strain Relations for Coated Fabrics," The Design of Air-Supported Structures. In Conference Proceedings, Bristol. July, 1984London: The Institution of Structural Engineers.
21.
Uemura, M. and N. Ochi.1974. Deflection of Orthotropic Rectangular Membrane under Lateral PressureUniversity of Tokyo.
22.
(verbatim) Notes on a meeting with Dr. J. Bahndorf and Dr. D. Stroebel, Institut fuer Anwendung der Geodaesie im Bauwesen, Universitaet Stuttgart, August 28, 1989 on the form-finding and patterning of the retractable stadium roof for the Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada.
23.
(verbatim) Notes on a discussion with J. Wernick, Birdair-Chemfab, Buffalo, December 1980.
