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Why are membrane structures in large stadiums prone to damage? A firsthand account of a highly challenging membrane‑structure replacement project.
Release Time:
2026-05-21
Why are membrane structures in large stadiums prone to damage? A firsthand account of a challenging membrane‑structure replacement project.
Many people assume that once a membrane‑structure building is installed, it requires no ongoing maintenance. In reality, large‑span membrane structures place stringent demands on the steel framework, the cable‑tensioning system, and the condition of the membrane surface itself. Recently, Henan Jingtian undertook the repair and replacement project for the membrane canopy at Jincheng City Stadium. Due to sudden high winds combined with prolonged neglect of routine maintenance, the cables in the side‑span areas snapped, and the triangular membrane sections sustained severe damage, necessitating custom‑fabricated replacements. The real challenge of this project, however, was not simply replacing the membrane material.
Rather:
How can one accurately reconstruct the original spatial structure without complete drawings?
Challenges in Maintaining Large-Span, High-Altitude Membrane Structures
This project is a typical large-span, high-altitude membrane structure. On-site:
Lowest point of the steel frame | 18 meters |
Highest point | 23 meters |
Cantilever length | 19 meters |
Main girder length | 26 meters |
The area of a single membrane is approximately | 150㎡ |
It is a large-scale, high-altitude, irregular‑shaped membrane structure project. Meanwhile, the stadium remains open to the public; therefore, construction must be scheduled to avoid peak sporting activity hours. This poses a significant challenge for:
Work at height | Lifting Organization |
Safety Management | Construction Schedule Coordination |
All have set higher standards.
Why did the initial construction fail?
In the early stages, the construction team relied on conventional manual surveying methods, using a crane to collect on-site data. However, due to:
The spatial structure has a large span. | Complex curved surface |
Cumulative altitude error | Inaccurate control of the longitudinal and latitudinal directions. |
Ultimately, this resulted in the membrane material failing to flatten after tensioning, with numerous wrinkles appearing on site, and consequently failing to pass inspection.
Why has drone modeling become critical?
After taking over the project, the Henan Jingtian engineering team re‑analyzed the site conditions. They ultimately decided to use drones for 3D surveying and modeling. Compared with traditional manual measurement, drone‑based surveying can:
Accurate acquisition of spatial curved-surface data | Ensure consistency in elevation differences. | Reduce human error |
Reduce the operating costs of machinery and equipment | Improve search accuracy |
|
This is the core of the project’s ultimate success. 
The complete process from measurement to installation
After acquiring precise spatial data, the Henan Jingtian team completed:
Data Modeling | Membrane Form-Finding | Cutting Design |
Layout Optimization | Material cutting and processing | Thermal fusion splicing of membrane material |
Ultimately, through the coordinated efforts of the design team and the on-site construction team, the entire design, fabrication, and installation were completed in just six days. The project successfully passed acceptance inspection. 
What is the true value of a professional membrane structure manufacturer?
In many membrane‑structure projects, the real challenge is not installation—it’s the ability to perform secondary detailed design. This is especially true for retrofitting existing membrane structures, working on projects without as‑built drawings, handling large‑span irregular‑shaped structures, and executing high‑altitude maintenance tasks. Without professional surveying expertise, advanced detailing capabilities, and hands‑on construction experience, it’s all too easy to encounter issues such as uneven tensioning, structural deviations, wrinkling of the membrane surface, and failure to pass inspection.
This is also why many problems that ultimately remain unresolved end up being entrusted to truly professional membrane‑structure manufacturers.
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