The objective was to design a cantilevering steel roof and understand the interaction between the steel support structure and the PTFE fabric cladding. This complicated architecturally driven form required coordination of the structure and the fabric that could only be developed through the engineering model.

To achieve this, the design team had to form find the fabric shape through a soap film form finding routine in the structural analysis program, GSA. This finds a fabric form that is in pure tension. The form found shape was then connected to the steel structure. The edge condition was rigidly connected to represent the clamping detail. However, to investigate whether the fabric lifted off the structure under ultimate limit state wind loads, non-linear springs were implemented, as shown in the attached picture. Once the model was developed the structure was analysed under different wind and prestress load cases to determine an adequate level of prestress and to design the steel members. For robustness, an analysis was run to check the effect of one fabric panel failing and its impact on the rest of the structure.

The results will include the PTFE fabric chosen and the requirements for strengthening locally. This will then lead into the fabric connection detailing and the steel design.

In conclusion the presentation will run through the analysis and design processes that were utilized on the Gold Coast AFL Stadium at Carrara to achieve this architectural wave roof form.