A tensile structure is a structure elements carrying only tension and no compression or bending. A tensile membrane structure is most often used as a roof, as they can economically and attractively span large distances. These type of structure is commonly found in sports facilities, stadiums, tribunes, bazaar area, shopping mall, carpark, walkways,pedestrian canopies, playground,spaces between buildings,multi-purpose buildings,long span structures,airdomes ,warehousing and storage buildings.
The first development of practical calculations of stresses and deformations of tensile structures, shells and membranes by a Russian engineer Vladimir Shukhov. he designed eight tensile structures and thin-shell structures exhibition pavilions for the Nizhny Novgorod Fair of 1896, covering the area of 27,000 square meters. In recent days, tensile structures have found great popularity and have been used in many places. Some of the notable building are Munich OlympiaPark, The Millennium Dome London and Ashford Designer Outlet United Kingdom.
