Step-by-step guide to design a tensile structure – Tensile Architect

“To build anything, you need to apply your heart to it”, they say. According to us, though, you need a lot more. Constructing a tensile structure is a technical task but simple. We explain how.

Credit: tensilearchitect.in

Have you ever wondered what it takes to design a tensile structure of your own? Unlike the traditional buildings of brick and concrete this is not that difficult to design. But it isn’t easy either especially if you have no idea how the structures work. That’s why you need to consult an expert and that’s precisely the reason why we are here – to make your search of an expert tensile architect quicker.

If it’s the process that’s confusing you, it won’t after confuse you any longer after this article. In this article, we will explain the entire design stage step-by-step. So, let’s begin.

Preparation is necessary. It doesn’t matter whether you are preparing for an exam or trying to construct a tensile structure, you do need some preparatory works. In case of tensile structure, it involves asking the right questions.

• What’s the purpose?


• What’s the intended life of the structure – is it to be temporary or is it to be permanent?


• How well is accessible is the site location?


• What about its maintenance once it’s completed?


• How much’s the money, honey?

Once you are done with answering the above questions, we begin the important steps.

Step 1: Designing is not a job made for all

By the most important stage. It affects not just the final outlook of the tensile structure but also the subsequent steps like fabrication and installation. Design is an art and an art takes time as well as expertise. This is where tensile architect comes in. With an experience of almost 2 decades in designing tensile structures, we have some of the best experts to offer you a service. The structures could be designed by taking the help of different softwares like AutoCAD, Mpanel etc. An image below shows how it looks like. This step impacts the aesthetics to a large extent.

Credit: YouTube/Grasshopper - Creating Tensile Structures with Kangaroo/DanielChristev

Step 2: Engineering is the strength

No construction is complete without the involvement of an engineer. They are crucial for deciding the stability, balance and safety of designs created by the tensile architect and designers. The engineers often work in conjunction with design team and are aided by various design software.

Step 3: Fabrication is the building block

Fabrication can be termed as the base of any tensile structure. Though largely dependent on step 1, fabrication has its own technicalities. In simpler terms, it involves creating a tensile fabric from raw materials – they could be different polymers like PVC, ETFE, etc. and/or fibers. It must be kept in mind that each polymer imparts its own unique characteristics to the tensile structure. The task of a tensile architect is to choose the ones that fit and meet our requirements perfectly. This stage is crucial since much of the advantages attributed to a tensile structure like durability, resistance to heat and weather, flexibility, strength etc. is decided here. A properly fabricated fabric is usually multi layered and looks something like the one below.

Representational image. Credit: Infothek/mehgies.com

Step 4: Fabrication of associated parts

A tensile structure needs anchorages and supports to hold the fabric. The shape of the structure too is largely dependent on their positions and/or placements. We need to fabricate them as well. Though largely made of steel, they could be made from other materials as well.

Step 5: Installation

‘All is well that ends well’, is a common saying and the same is true for tensile structure as well. One of their primary vantage point is the ease of installation. The structure is not completed until it is solidly installed at the desired location. In fact, it is the most crucial step because it defines how a tensile structure will appear in reality. By careful and clever placement of supports, the shapes and curvatures of the tensile fabrics can be adjusted accordingly. Some of the likely curvatures have been shown in the image below. But this image in no way represents all possible curvatures and shapes.  Though the shape and design is finalized in the step 1 and step 2, it’s here that they finally see fruition.

Step 6: Maintenance

‘Things always tend to go wrong’ is an oft repeated theme in Physics, fondly named as Murphy’s Law. In simple terms what it means is that everything in this world is bound to break down as it gets old. The key to extending this limit is proper and regular maintenance. Maintaining a tensile structure is rather cheap and easy compared to traditional structures. Usually it involves sweeping the dust off the fabrics or adjusting the anchorages etc. It could be done manually or you could use automatic dust sweepers as well.

Credit: LinkedIn/basestructures.com

So, now we are pretty sure that you are well aware of the stages that are involved in erecting any tensile structure from scratch. Designing your own tensile structure could be fun. All that you need to do is follow this steps religiously.

Aluminum fabrication made easy

Image source: Intamsolutions

Ever been to the kitchen? If you have, turn your head around. What do you see? The forks, knives, cans etc. What’s common among them? One thing – the metal aluminum. Being one of the lightest and readily available, people for long have used aluminum fabrication for different things. Right from thin foil over sweets to hard cover over car rimes, aluminum fabrication is everywhere. In light of such popularity it should come as no compromise that many companies are engaged in its manufacture and supply. BKF is one of them. But its fabrication process is a hard nut to crack. Fear not! We are going to make that easy for you.

The trivia

• Aluminum is light in weight


• Blends well with most materials


• Good conductor of heat and electricity


• Immune to magnetic fields


• Third most widely available metal in Earth crust

The fabrication process simplified

When it comes to their fabrication, the process is too tedious and complex but quicker as well compared to others. Many physical and chemical procedures work in tandem to fabricate aluminum. The process followed for aluminum fabrication is called as extrusion. A sheet of aluminum has to go through many stages. This involves Sawing, Deburring, Milling, Drilling, Turning, Shearing, Insulation, Plastic forming etc. Generally the last 3 are done depending on specific requirements. While insulation is done in cases where less conductivity is required, plastic forming is simply another term for bending. Deburring is done to remove small chips leftover from extrusion cut. The rest of the terminologies are rather obvious.

Why favor aluminum?

For many reasons. One, it is rather easy to cut and shape aluminum. Two, the metal is 100% recyclable. So little environmental concerns as well. Three, its light-weight has many takers. Four, conductivity to heat can be easily controlled through process called insulation. Five, easy to find. All these characteristics makes it a perfect metal to find wide usage and it does. They are used in manufacture of performance vehicles and their alloys is used in aircrafts as well. All that one needs to do is fabricate accordingly. There are not many who do that with élan.

Where to buy then?

There are few who are genuinely in the business of its manufacture and supply. BKF is NCR based company that is known for its high quality aluminum fabricated products across India. Along with aluminum fabrication, they are also engaged in prefabrication of stainless steel, mild steel etc. With in-house manufacturing process and team of highly skilled professionals and technicians, their motto remains quality assurance. Tensile fabric structures and polycarbonate structures are their other specialties. Visit their website to know about the full range of their products. You can put an instant quote.

 

Note: The article has been written for GnextTechnology and http://www.tensilefabricstructure.com

Ushering in new age of mobility – Electric Vehicles in India

Image courtesy: LinkedIn

In winter of 2015, when world leaders met for 21^st time to discuss climate change nobody thought they might reach at any agreements. But they did and the whole world stood in awe and surprise. While the commitments were largely liberal, their implementation was not. Many countries were reluctant to do anything but not us, not India. We made it our ambitious priority to not just compensate for other’s mistakes but be a leader in this field. Among many things that we intended, one was the push for electric vehicles. The vision document paints the picture of complete transfer to electric vehicles by 2020. For this we needed to change. Apart from bus and cars, there was perceptible change in one more field – greater push for e-rickshaw.

What does this entails?

A lot of changes and challenges. Among many other things that it might impact or bring in, there are some areas where we need nothing less than a revolution to sustain this dream. We are still a fossil-addict country with more than 90% of our vehicles running on petrol or diesel. Some of the challenges that we face are –

• Where’s the electricity, honey?

The lifeline of EV is its battery and for it to charge we need electricity, a precious commodity especially in interiors.

• Charging points – Just like petrol pumps for fossil fuel based vehicles, we need battery charging points for EVs


• Infrastructure and ecosystem to supply spare parts


• Finances for R&D

The key to problems

The Mckinsey report on future of mobility in India lists four factors that can act as drivers of EV adoption. These are –

• Government regulations and support

An ecosystem which disincentives fossil based vehicles by putting in place strict carbon emission norms and incentives EVs by supportive policies.

• Technology

Much of the cost of electric vehicle goes into making batteries. Finance and support should be provided to R&D so to reduce battery costs and increase efficiency.

• Infrastructure

Both for providing facilities for AC and DC charging as well supply ecosystem for spare parts.

• Customer Demand

By working on ways to reduce costs of EVs and sensitizing them about climate change.

What Power Electric Vehicle does and how can it be of help?

It is market leader in the manufacture and dealership of e-rickshaw in Uttar Pradesh, largest state in India. Apart from fully made battery-powered rickshaw it also deals with the supply of related accessories and spare parts. With the use of cutting edge technology and high quality raw materials, the quality of products manufactured remain the benchmarks of standards and are duly certified by ICAT (International Center for Automotive Technology).

To help the cause of combating climate change, Power Electric Vehicle invites dealers, distributors and individuals who are in this business to try out our products and be our partners in being the harbinger of clean energy revolution in e-rickshaw business.

Air ambulance: The future of patient commute

Image courtesy: Ziqita

Finding and booking an ambulance – whether an air ambulance or a ground ambulance can be a daunting task. At the time, when every breath of your loved ones is precious and each moment you spend with them is crucial, wasting even a second seems like the worst thing in the world. Particularly in India where booking even a ground ambulance is a seemingly difficult task, one even gives up when it comes to finding an air ambulance. Fortunately, this all might change with AMB life which envisions an online platform where ambulance providers all across the globe can not only register but can also get in touch directly with the patients. It allows for a user to search air ambulances and road or ground ambulances in country, state and even to the cities of their choosing. Backed by a robust technology that provides for a user-friendly interface, it aims to change the logistical fabric of ambulances in cities around the globe.

The history of Air ambulance

The pioneers in the field of air ambulances are the European countries like France, Britain and Spain. But these were mostly used for causalities of war. During and after Second World War, its use increased exponentially aided by US push. But in many parts of the globe, it was usually reserved as a war-time savior. In India, it was India Aero medical services that kick started the concept of air ambulance in 1995.

Air ambulance: an untapped service

Air ambulance usage is generally rare and is undertaken only in extreme circumstances. It could be particularly helpful in remote areas if not for the high cost incurred. Unlike ground or road ambulance services which are relatively easy to understand and undertake, air ambulance is another nut all together. This is mainly due to ignorance about the various terminologies used in air ambulance and absence of platform to choose the most cost – effective one. The inconsistencies and in many cases absence of laws or guidelines regarding air ambulance has also contributed to its rare usage. The absence of medically suited aircrafts are also an issue.

At AMB life, one can easily understand the meanings of commonly used terminologies like MEDVAC, CASEVAC, RVSM, EMS, EMT, Bedside-to-Bedside etc.

Cost component in Air Ambulance

The cost component is the single most important factor in case of air ambulance. While ground and road ambulance are generally cheaper, the same isn’t true for air ambulance. Depending on the requirements of the patient, type of aircraft, availability and need of medical staff/s, presence of insurance cover, facilities offered etc., cost could vary immensely.

It is here that AMB life shows its true utility. By providing different service providers to register on its platform, it presents the patient with a one-stop portal where they can’t just search about the air ambulance availability near their locality but can also look at the ratings, reviews and insurance covers. These not just helps them make an informed decision but also makes it a lot easier.

Air ambulance is an exciting prospect of patient commute particularly for remote and far flung areas. The need is to make them more affordable my providing appropriate insurance basket and making it easier to reach out. While AMB life can easily take care of the later, the onus of providing the former rests with the service providers and insurance companies.

Visit www.amblife.com for more.

Note: This article has been written for GnextTechnologies and Amb life.

B2B directory in ambulance services: Saving lives together

Image courtesy: indiantaxiservices.com

The health sector is highly fragmented. We have different components working together in different silos, unaware of need and benefit that they can get by working as one. The ambulance service – both air and ground represent the same stories. There are numerous carriers providing this services but in absence of any binding force they work independently giving benefit to none. The demand from customers is not declining though but absence of platform where they can find all of them together definitely hurts. A B2B directory of such services could be a solution.

Breaking down B2B and B2B directory

B2B is a shorthand for Business to Business and is referred to the mode of business where different companies work together like supplying a raw material where both the supplier as well buyer are companies. It forms a small proportion of total business dealings but still is most crucial for growth of B2C which is what many try to tap into.

B2B directory is nothing but a collection of different business companies working together. One example could be a site named AMB life which lets different ambulance service providers to register on their website. They can register their main service as well as all their ancillaries like hearse van, oxygen systems etc.

Why the need for B2B?

More Profit can be one reason. Easy accessibility could be another. But the rationale behind it is much bigger. It is the belief that there is indeed strength in unity. If the services are scattered they are not just difficult to carve out from the milieu but may also end up being the white elephant. B2B directories bring them together. In case of directories for ambulance services, it goes way beyond just ‘being together’. Some of the benefits it may throw might be unexpected –

• Bigger audience – If information about everything related to every ambulance service carriers and their services offered is provided under one roof, it makes more customers to gravitate towards them.


• More revenue – obviously. More the people flocking to you, better will be the profits. As the cliché goes, more the merrier.


• Better quality of service – these B2B directories usually provide the option of rating and reviewing the companies. While it may be of help to customers in choosing the best, it can also be of immense importance to companies registered there. They can easily find out about what their competitors are offering and make amends accordingly.


• Data and information – data is gold and these directories are treasure trove. And how do you mine them? Data mining and analytics, folks! Since most of the data’s contained here has been shared consensually by customers there’s nothing that’s grey ethics.


• Accessibility – this is the only reason for their creation in the first place. Customers get to choose at the comfort of their bed.

When it comes to ambulance, empathy is paramount and every moment is precious. These B2B directories can be a single point entry for the patients. Many such websites like StanPlus, Goambee and PrimeAmbulance are trying to change the narrative. AMB life, which I mentioned earlier (sorry for bringing it again. I traversed many such sites and directories. This was a tad better and it’s always good to learn from the best), provides customers to search and choose based on country, states and even cities. Yay! You guessed it right. Every private ambulance provider around the globe is there. So, it’s time that businesses come together. If it’s about saving lives, why not do it together?

Note: This article has been written for GnextTechnologies.