Design of hyperbolic paraboloid roofs with circular and elliptical plan shape

On the basis of a research aimed at the parameterization of the structural responses and aerodynamic behavior of hyperbolic paraboloid cables nets with four different footprints, respectively, square, rectangular, circular and elliptical, this paper focuses on the circular and elliptical shape showing two interesting case studies. The first case study is about the design of a tensile structure with circular shape proposed as alternative roof for the multipurpose building called “Entertainment Centre” which is part of a larger environmental redevelopment project of a portion of land in the town of Massafra (TA) in order to show that this type of roof is highly competitive compared to traditional structures; the second one presents the design of a tensile structure with elliptical shape proposed to reorganize a part of the town of Agnone (IS). The structural analysis were performed by applying wind action evaluated by using the mean experimental pressure coefficients acquired in the wind tunnel. They show the optimum behavior of the hyperbolic paraboloid shape both for wind angle at 0°, parallel to the stabilizing cables, and 90°, parallel to the load bearing cables (that represents the worst load condition).