MPanel
all about tension structures
Fixed Edge Sail

AutoCAD
Rhino
Shows a method to design a sail structure with one fixed edge and 3 catenary edges.
Fixed Edge Cone

AutoCAD
Rhino
How to design a cone tent with fixed edges. Illustrates how to use MPanel to fix the eaves on a double cone tent structure.
Change Mesh Density

AutoCAD
Rhino
Shows mesh density being changed to refine a cone tent. Change Mesh Density can be a great time saver, allowing the initial design to be drawn out with very coarse meshes that require little construction time and allow MPanel to relax the forms quickly. When the design is further along the meshes can be increased in density and then re-relaxed, to obtain a high definition drawing.
Square Sail Droop Control

AutoCAD
Rhino
Looks at the problems of adjusting the droop of a square sail with high/low points. There is a peculiarity of an exactly square sail on a symmetrical frame, that adjusting the weft/warp ratio does not adjust the droop of the sail. This drawing explains that issue, and offers a solution to the problem.
Embedded Cables

AutoCAD
Rhino
How to use embedded cables to carry some of the loads in a cone tent design.
Half Dome Awning

AutoCAD
Rhino
Creating an awning cover with some double curvature on a half dome. Framed structures, which are sometimes made without double curvature, benefit in strength and rigidity if they are designed with double curvature. This drawing illustrates working over a simple entry way awning.
Cable Structures

AutoCAD
Rhino
Looks at designing cable reinforced structures as an alternative to stressed skin structures using MPanel

Formfinding Tutorials

Follow the link to download a zip file containing the drawing in AutoCAD or Rhino