Factor Analysis of Membrane Strength Degradation Using Field Data of Tent Warehouses

A membrane structure can be a good candidate of a "Kigen-tsuki building," because its dominant load is wind or snow. In order to set safety factors for a Kigen-tsuki membrane structure appropriately, it is necessary to identify the factors owing to which the membrane material strength degrades and the degree of their influences. In this study, field data of strength degradation of actual tent warehouses and related data were collected. Then a formula for approximately estimating the residual strength of membrane material is proposed as a function of environmental parameters and characteristics of membrane material such as its color.