Design of Fabric Cladding for HS Bleachers

[Berniedog]

A local Company wants to clad High School Bleachers with a coated polyester fabric. They will place this vertically spanning from the top of the rear of the bleachers to ground level. THe problem is how do I calculate the strenght of the fabric? Will not the tension on the fabric increase as it deflects under the wind load?

Most bleachers have no risers so if the fabric can take a 90 mph wind then the bleachers have to be reinforced. No one will want to do this.

 

[JedClampett]

I think the reason that you haven't got any responses on this is that we can'r figure out why someone wants to fabric clad bleachers. If this some roll off cover?
If the bleachers can support a crowd of people sitting cheek to cheek (so to speak), I would guess the wind load would be insignificant.

 

[Berniedog]

Jed. See the following link:

http://bleacherjerseys.com/

It is pretty cool

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Depending on the size and prosity of the fabric - wind could be a problem for a few reasons. Your attachement points could see significant forces and of course the side loads could be a problem - esp in a 90 mph at midnight when there is little or no dead load on it. OF course in a 90 mph wind - most people will leave regardless of time.

Maybe a "roll up" system could be investigated. Roll it down only during game times.

 

[Berniedog]

Rolling it up is a good idea but not what they want.

 

[JedClampett]

I agree with Mike. The fabric will load up the posts with all kind of lateral loads. Looking at the website, most bleachers are made with pretty small posts. A bendng moment on them is going to snap them like a twig.
Could you add new members to carry the wind load?

 

[hokie66]

Stupid idea.