The Feasibility of CFRP Cables in Long Span Temporary Tensile Membrane Structures

Abstract

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) cables have the potential to replace steel in orthogonally loaded tensile membrane structures. Tensile membrane typologies are used in place of traditional compressive structures because of their efficient material use, light weight, mobility, and ability to span long distance without support columns. CFRP cables have the qualities required amplify all of these advantages even further. CFRP cables have been proposed and tested to replace steel because they are five times lighter, twice as strong, resistant to atmospheric degradation, and fatigue at half the rate of steel. These cables are not only lighter than steel, but they require less material to achieve the same ultimate strength. This makes CFRP a better solution for mobile tensile structures to create lightweight, long span structures that are readily mobile. Despite the promise of this material, there are still a number of construction and material problems that must be addressed such as the high cost, wind loads, and low sheer strength of CFRP. This study will evaluate the feasibility of CFRP cables replacing steel based on span capabilities, economic feasibility, and constructability for temporary tensile membrane structures. This criteria will be applied to CFRP Cables in one way cable beam and two way cable net structures. I will make a case that CFRP cables are a better option that steel at a comparable price based on a design system for a long span mobile disaster relief shelter.