Interactive exploration of tensile membrane structures for conceptual and optimal design

Lightweight tensile membrane structures (TMS) are versatile solutions for covering large open spaces. These structures comprise of membrane fabric supported by cables and struts. TMS offer designers great flexibility in design. However, TMS design is unconventional because the initial shape is unknown and must be 'formfound'. This poses challenges during the conceptual design stage. To address this, a novel interactive generative framework has been developed in this study. It assists designers in exploring various TMS forms under different boundary conditions. The framework allows designers to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative performance objectives, by employing an evolutionary algorithm - including shape parameterisation and ranking - where designers actively participate in the optimisation process. Furthermore, the TMS prestress can be optimised against external loads. This robust framework is adaptable to various TMS shapes and is illustrated through diverse case studies.