The nuvola for the new centro congressi in rome

In Rome’s EUR district, a new congress centre has opened recently, designed by the Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas. The project consists of three main elements, which the architect calls „Teca“ (theca), „Lama“ (blade) and „Nuvola“ (cloud). The central element located inside the Teca is the Nuvola. Almost floating only with few points fixed to the floor and to the building, it dominates the huge glass box. The Nuvola is a membrane cladded steel structure with a length of 126 m, a width of 65 m and a height of 29 m. It contains a café, foyers, meeting rooms and an auditorium for 2000 spectators. The paper is about this central element, the Nuvola from the geometry driven design process to the installation. It describes the design process, especially the very complex formfinding process in order to achieve the defined geometry derived from a nurbs shape. The analysis process with mock-up installations is presented, as well as the detailing and the automated process for the workshop design and the cutting pattern

From NURBS to Textile Architecture

NURBS models are used in the architectural design to develop new geometries. This document describes the process from the pure geometry to a feasible membrane shape, which is still compatible with the design intend of the architect

Editorial to the Proceedings of the TensiNet - COST Action TU1303 Symposium 2016

The TensiNet Association, in collaboration with the COST Action TU1303 “Novel structural skins: Improving sustainability and efficiency through new structural textile materials and designs” and the Newcastle University organized the TensiNet - COST Action TU1303 Symposium 2016 held in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, from Wednesday 26th to Friday 28th October 2016. This paper presents the 3-day event introducing the topics selected for the sessions, the keynote lectures and speakers and the sponsors which supported the organization of the symposium

Membrane concepts for three last minute expo projects

This document describes the membrane concepts with formfinding, detailing and patterning of the membranes for three pavilions on the Expo 2015 in Milan. It describes the development of the membrane shape and details in order to allow a fast fabrication and installation

Simultaneous, in situ measurements of OH and HO_2 in the stratosphere

Stratospheric OH and HO_2 radical densities have been measured between 36 and 23 km using a balloon-borne, in situ instrument launched from Palestine, TX on August 25, 1989. OH is detected using the laser-induced fluorescence technique (LIF) employing a Cu-vapor-laser pumped dye laser coupled with an enclosed-flow detection chamber. HO_2 is detected nearly simultaneously by adding No to the sample flow to convert ambient HO_2 to OH. Observed OH and HO_2 densities ranged from 8.0 ± 2.8 × 10^6 and 1.4 ± 0.5 × 10^7 molec cm^(−3), respectively, at 36 km, to 1.4± 0.5 × 10^6 and 3.0± 1.0 × 10^6 at 23 km, where the uncertainty is ±1σ. The HO_2 density exhibits a maximum in the 34–30 km of 1.7±0.6 × 10^7. The data were obtained over a solar zenith angle variation of 51° at 36 km to 61° at 23 km. O_3 and H_2O densities also were measured simultaneously with separate instruments

Balloon borne in-situ detection of OH in the stratosphere from 37 to 23 km

The OH number density in the stratosphere has been measured over the altitude interval of 37 to 23 km at midday via a balloon-borne gondola launched from Palestine, Texas on July 6, 1988. OH radicals are detected with a laser induced fluorescence instrument employing a 17 kHz repetition rate copper vapor laser pumped dye laser optically coupled to an enclosed flow, in-situ sampling chamber. OH abundances ranged from 88±31 pptv (1.1 ± 0.4 × 10^7 molec cm^(−3)) in the 36 to 35 km interval to 0.9 ± 0.8 pptv (8.7 ± 7.7 × 10^5 molec cm^(−3)) in the 24 to 23 km interval. The stated uncertainty (±1σ) includes that from both measurement precision and accuracy. Simultaneous detection of ozone and water vapor densities was carried out with separate on-board instruments

Simultaneous, in situ measurements of OH, HO_2, O_3, and H_2O: A test of modeled stratospheric HO_x chemistry

Simultaneous, in situ measurements of OH, HO_2, H_2O, and O_3 from 37–23 km are reported. The partitioning between OH and HO_2 and the total HO_x concentration are compared with expected steady-state values. The ratio of HO_2 to OH varies from less than 2 at 36 km to more than 3 at 25 km; in the lower stratosphere this ratio is nearly a factor of two less than predicted. The data are used to calculate HO_x production and loss rates. The measured HOx mixing ratio is consistent with production dominated by the reaction of O(1D) with H_2O, and loss controlled by NO_y below 28 km and HO_x above 30 km. The steady-state concentration of H_2O_2 is inferred from the measured HO_2 concentration and calculated photolysis rate. The maximum H_2O_2 mixing ratio (at 33 km) is predicted to be less than 0.2 ppb