Cable sag-span ratio effect on the behavior of saddle membrane roofs under wind load

Lightness and flexibility of membrane roofs make them very sensitive to any external load. One of the most important parameters that controls their behavior, especially under wind load is the sag/span ratio of edge cables. Based on the value of the pretension force in the edge cables and the horizontal projection of the actual area covered by the membrane, an optimized design range of cable sag/span ratios has been determined through carrying on several membrane form-finding analyses. Fully coupled fluid structure dynamic analyses of these membrane roofs are performed under wind load with several conditions using the CFD method. Through investigating the numerical results of these analyses, the behavior of membrane roofs with cables sag/span ratios selected from the previously determined optimized design range has been evaluated.