Analysis and Design of Fabric Membrane Structures: A Systematic Review on Material and Structural Performance

Membrane structures are increasingly in demand due to their lightweight properties and expressive architectural shapes. However, there does not yet exist a unified design approach for membrane structures as is available for conventional buildings. Current membrane structure design methods rely heavily on experience and precedent. This is mainly limited by the understanding and modeling of coated fabric and the unique analysis theory of membrane structure. To determine the typical and essential behavior of membrane structures, this paper reviews and compares the key constitutive models for coated fabric and the analysis theory of membrane structure. Emphasis is placed on current test standards in different countries. The existing challenges and limitations of the existing literature are discussed at the end, followed by brief recommendations on potential future research directions.