Tensile Structures
Urban Shade has large scale solutions to suit any outdoor area. With a wealth of experience in providing car park structures on large building projects, we can find a solutions for you.
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A brief history of tensile structures
Man has been using tents throughout history as a means of protection against the elements. The earliest men would prop up sticks and hang animal skins over them. This is the precursor of modern-day tensile structures. Evidence regarding the use of tents dates back to almost 40,000 years ago at which time the tent was the hub of all family life, particularly for cultures that were nomadic in nature. The military has also been long known for using the tent as a valuable tool in battle. Tents are easy to erect and disassemble, are relatively weather-tight, and are lightweight. All three characteristics have made tents invaluable as the main source of shelter for soldiers and hunters throughout time.
Modern technology has changed the way tents and tensile structures are made. In addition to being more weather-proof and lighter in weight than sticks and animal skins, modern tents offer advantages such as protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation and greater wind resistance. Most modern tents are spiked into the ground and are especially shaped to allow wind currents to pass through them. They are also coated with materials that resist UV degradation. Recently, pliable solar panels have been added to tents, allowing them to produce enough electricity to power laptop computers and medium-sized electronic devices.
How do tensile structures work?
A tensile structure can be thought of as an umbrella under which falls the tent. Other tensile structures are certain kinds of pavilions, raised canopies, and recently, even airports. The Coolangatta airport in Qld, and the Mecca Airport in the Middle East are examples of airports that use tensile structures.
Tensile structures create tension in different ways, depending on the size of the area that needs to be covered. In a basic pup tent, tension is created by the poles on which the frame of the tent rests. In the case of larger structures, more durable material such as fiberglass-coated polyurethane are used to give the structure its integrity. Usually, these structures also have as their base lines of steel cable which form a cable net, giving the structure its shape while allowing it to be flexible at the same time. There are even some tensile structures that do not need any supporting framework whatsoever. In this case, pressurized air is used to create the needed tension. At Urban Shade, we make tensile structures our business. Come and take a look at our line of shade sails and choose the one that is right for you.