I would like to build this shade structure using stretch fabric overhead- attach two corners to our 10 ft tall main tent, and the other two corners to metal poles. Has anyone done this, and do you recommend any type of pole? I was thinking 2 inch metall conduit but thought that might be too weak in a storm.
Cheers
Tensile stretch fabric shade structure
Re: Tensile stretch fabric shade structure
I have built tensile structures for years out there with genuine NATO camo netting and those hold up fine. Poles and spreaders were Structural Schedule 40 Aluminum poles 1 1/4", 10ft length. The real camo netting is insanely strong.
The spandex stuff is IMO not the best material for BM. I've seen it used to great effect and success in larger context, like interiors of domes or between larger structures, but as a main load-bearing element, I have my doubts.
The problem is that is stretches too much to be a singular load bearing member.
If I was in love with the spandex material, I would use it in a tensegrity arrangement instead, where main loads are on cabling and rigging and only light tension on the spandex.
With tensegrity, you would have your rigid compression members like the conduit poles, cable/rigging that maintains the tension to the compression element apex, and then lightly loaded tension on the spandex material which attaches to the tension elements.
Here is your basic 3 - Pole and a bunch of rope tensegrity shade.
All is basic product of these little gizmos
The spandex stuff is IMO not the best material for BM. I've seen it used to great effect and success in larger context, like interiors of domes or between larger structures, but as a main load-bearing element, I have my doubts.
The problem is that is stretches too much to be a singular load bearing member.
If I was in love with the spandex material, I would use it in a tensegrity arrangement instead, where main loads are on cabling and rigging and only light tension on the spandex.
With tensegrity, you would have your rigid compression members like the conduit poles, cable/rigging that maintains the tension to the compression element apex, and then lightly loaded tension on the spandex material which attaches to the tension elements.
Here is your basic 3 - Pole and a bunch of rope tensegrity shade.
All is basic product of these little gizmos