According to the forming method and stress characteristics of the membrane structure, it can be generally divided into three types: tensile membrane structure, Air Dome and skeleton membrane structure. A more vivid metaphor is that the tensile membrane structure is like a tent, Air Dome is like a hot air balloon, and the skeleton membrane structure is like a yurt.                                                                                                                                    

Tensioned membrane structure:

Using the characteristics of the positive and negative curvature of the saddle surface or other curved surfaces, tension is applied to the membrane material to improve the stiffness of the membrane structure to resist external loads.

Skeletal membrane structure:

The skeleton film uses the rigid member as the skeleton and the film material as the covering material. The rigid skeleton mainly bears the external load. Due to the light transmittance and tension of the film material, the large space of the skeleton film structure is brighter, more open and full of strength.

Air Dome:

A structure that uses air pressure to generate tension on the membrane to resist external forces is called Air Dome. Specifically, it is divided into two categories: air bearing type and inflatable tube type. It is an attempt of modern membrane structure to get rid of the image of circus tent.

Simply understand

The air bearing type uses the difference in air pressure inside and outside the membrane to generate tension on the membrane to balance the external load, similar to a hot air balloon.

The principle of the inflatable tube type is to use inflation to make the tube (beam or arch) form flexural and axial stiffness to bear external loads. Similar to common inflatable rods, the air pressure required by the inflatable tube type inflatable membrane is larger than that of the air-bearing type, and the structural efficiency is lower than that of the air-bearing type.