CAD Solutions for Fabric Design Professionals
MP ANEL N EWS
Form-finding and patterning software for AutoCAD
August 2006
Stay informed at www.mpanel.com
We make learning how to use MPanel as easy as possible. Whether
you are an experienced MPanel user, or just starting out, our website
offers drawings and videos to help you better understand the func-
tions of MPanel.
Go to our website at www.mpanel.com and look at our Tutorials
and Tutorial Videos pages. We have just posted some new drawings
to help explain the stressing of a tensile fabric structure. Check back
often, as we add to our tutorial drawings frequently.
MPanel Customer Spotlight :
In this and following issues of MPanel News, we are featuring some of the projects built by our existing MPanel cus-
tomers. We hope this will help you all to know each other and benefit the whole tensile fabric industry by showcasing
the many ways that fabric can now be used in Architecture.
TECHNICA Consultoria e Projetos Industriais Ltda.
/
BRAZIL
Featured Project:
The Fish and Fruit Market of Ananindeua – 2006
By Paulo A. B. Barroso - Civil/Structural Eng .
INTRODUCTION
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Ananindeua is a small town located on the suburb of Belem, a larger city and capital of the state of Para, which inte-
grates the great amazonic rain forest in Brazil. One of the most important income source of the community of Anan-
indeua is its rich commerce of fish and fruit, produced by local fishermen and farmers. As a result of a uncontrolled
growth, the existent market site and its surroundings has turned to one of the busiest places in town. The infra-structure
has become inappropriate and the search for a better place was urgent. Last year Technica was invited to join a team
for developing a project for a new market place and a roof.
THE FRAMEWORK AND THE MEMBRANE ROOF
The new site will enclose a 3250 m2 of an unused public
space, and its location is strategic for transit and all urban
facilities. The roof is composed by 42 hexagon 9.6 me-
ters diameter calices (inverted umbrellas), 4 hexagon 16
meters diameter umbrellas, and 2 main cone tents – 16
meters diameter hexagon as well.
The metallic supporting system was designed as very
rigid tubular steel space frame. Concerning to the ag-
gressive hot and damp weather, with almost everyday
heavy rains, we decided to apply hot dip galvanization to
all metalwork. This will improve the weather resistance
capacity of steel parts as long as the membrane life.
LOADS AND STRESSES
Since there are no earthquakes, snow loads, hurricanes,
etc, in this region, we designed all structural components
for the following loads:
Framework self weight
20 kgf/m2
Live loading
25 kgf/m2
Wind speed
108 km/h -
Average pressure or suction 50 kgf/m2
Membrane self weight and fittings 1 kgf/m2
Steel framework stresses according to Brazilian
regulations NBR8800 and AISC-ASD 91
Membrane rupture stresses – Type I Fu = 60 kN/m
Membrane pre-stress: max = 10 kN/m
Membrane wind loads + pre-stress: max = 15 kN/m
FABRICATION
Membrane patterning, cutting and welding, and all steel
parts, were engineered and industrialized at one of our
associates’ facilities in São Paulo, south of Brazil.
ON SITE ASSEMBLY (This project is still under con-
struction)
Erection and assembly on site was made easy by choos-
ing in the design phase, the right sizes and overall dimen-
sions for each structural element. With regards to the site
topology and maximum highs to be reached, small han-
dling and rising equipment are to be used.
DESIGN DRAWINGS
THE TEAM AND MATERIALS
Architecture: J. M. Bassalo – Meia Dois Nove Arquitetura e Urbanismo
Consulting and structural engineering for metalics and textile membrane: Paulo A. B. Barroso – TECHNICA
Consultoria e Projetos Industriais Ltda.
Metalwork: METALCO
Textiles developing and site assemblage: FORMATTO
Supply coordination: Eng. Rita Bose
Structural steel: ASTM A.36 from national suppliers
Membrane: Type I Mehler and Ferrari
Patterning software: MPanel software
Get your free 30-day MPanel Evaluation
If you haven’t yet tried MPanel, please do contact us and we will send you a free, fully functional, evaluation copy
of MPanel to try out in your own design environment. We will even hold a training web conference with you to
get you started! To request this MPanel evaluation please send us an email with your company contact information
to support@mpanel.com .
You can also contact us through
Just search for MPanel Support and choose the representative that
is closest to you.
The IFAI Expo is just around the corner—visit us at booth 1700
Once again, MPanel will be on show at the IFAI Expo! Please make plans to visit booth #1700 and let us show
you some of the features that make MPanel invaluable in your tensile fabric structure design team.
US and Americas contact:
Australia contact:
UK, Europe and Asia contact:
Timothy Akes
Alan Stewart
Andrew Askwith
CAD Effects, LLC
Structureflex
Meliar Design
10805 Sunset Office Drive, Ste 300
280 Bay Road
Lower Cwm Barns
St. Louis, Missouri 63127 USA
Cheltenham, 3192 Victoria, AU
Llanafan Fawr, Builth Wells,
(314) 631-6300 voice
(03)9581 6150 voice
Powys, Wales, UK LD2 3SG
(314) 754-9388 fax
(03) 9581 6177 fax
+44 (0)1597 860291
takes@cadeffects.com
alan@structureflex.com.au
andrew@meliar.com
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