Membrane Structures, First Steps towards Form Finding

The goal of this book is to take the readers through the introduction and basic understanding of the fascinating world of membrane structures. The readers will find in this book a practical guide and reference providing them a clear view and understanding of the tensile structures. We recommend this book for students and professionals who are just beginning to learn about tensile structures. These chapters will introduce students to the Design topics: 1. Basics on Tensile Structures and 2. Form Finding. Also the next chapters will introduce the readers to the subjects of: 3. Tensioned Surface Materials, 4. The Elements of Support Structures, 5. Patterning and Fabrication, and 6. Installation and Maintenance. The reader will find a lot of drawings and illustrations included in each chapter. If you are new to this subject and looking for details and illustrated explanations on tensile surface structures through a design method, then we recommend this book "Membrane Structures: First Step Towards Form Finding". If you are experienced in this subject or if you are looking to learn on how to perform surfaces analysis, and calculations, then we recommend you to enroll in our Engineering Master Degree for Membrane Structures at IMS e.V. Institute for Membrane and Shell Technologies in Germany. http://www.ims-institute.org Don't buy this book if you are expecting to learn surface analysis. Don't buy this book if you are expecting to learn how to use Rhinoceros, Grasshopper or Kangaroo, these are just great tools that we used to explain the used of Form Finding, but not for leaning the software. This book was written in collaboration with Raham Zarfam - PhD in Structural Engineer, Carlos Talavera - Architect & Membrane Structure Engineer, Thomas Van Dessel - M. Eng. and Caglar Ozturk - Architect & Membrane Structure Engineer.