Snow Induced Ponding of Toyota Pavilion Canopy, Montage Mountain, PA

摘要

The tensioned fabric canopy roof covering the audience seating at the Toyota Pavilionperforming arts center in Montage Mountain, PA failed from snow induced ponding during asnow storm in February 2007. A new fabric membrane was fabricated and installed prior to theopening of the summer season in June of 2007.Tensioned fabric membrane structures are unique in their capability to carry very high loads inrelation to their self weight. This is due in part to the large deflection behavior of thesestructures that renders them relatively insensitive to specific load distributions. This samecharacteristic causes tensioned membrane roof structures to be uniquely vulnerable to ponding,typically snow induced. The Toyota Pavilion canopy structure had exhibited a vulnerability toponding in previous winters and was scheduled to undergo modifications to improve itsresistance.The paper reviews the ponding phenomena, the replacement of the tensioned fabric membrane,and the changes implemented to mitigate future ponding of the membrane roof.