Formfinder Professional: A Software for Designing Tensile Membrane Structures

    Tensile membrane structures are architectural forms that use flexible materials, such as fabrics, foils, or cables, to create shapes that can span large distances and withstand various loads. They are often used for applications such as awnings, canopies, facades, roofs, stadiums, and pavilions. However, designing tensile membrane structures can be challenging, as they require a complex interplay of geometry, material properties, structural behavior, and aesthetics. To assist architects and project planners in this task, a software called Formfinder Professional was developed by Formfinder Software GmbH.

    What is Formfinder Professional?

    Formfinder Professional is a software that helps users to design, plan, and evaluate tensile membrane structures in an intuitive and interactive way. It allows users to sketch their ideas on a virtual canvas, and then automatically generates the optimal form and structure for the given boundary conditions and loads. Users can also modify the shape, size, material, and color of the structure, and see the effects on the form, stress distribution, and cost estimation. Formfinder Professional supports various types of tensile membrane structures, such as cable nets, pneumatic cushions, conical tents, anticlastic membranes, synclastic membranes, and hybrid forms.

Formfinder Professional