Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Been looking into the idea of building my own greenhouse, the inexpensive "hoop house" is very appealing to DIY guys like me but I like to put my own engineering twist on everything I do. Over long spans it is easier to get strength in tension rather then rigidity, so I was thinking of building a greenhouse much like an old Army tent, the concept is three high tension cables and a weighted/anchored perimeter to hold it in a space efficient shape. simply drape the polyethylene over the cables and use some heavy duty tow strap and epoxy adhesive to hold it firmly in place, only rigid structure would be the doorway, sounds almost too simple to work, what do you think?

Some pics would help the cerebrally challenged members visualise this concept

Well if I had pictures of one of my own I would not be asking how it would work if you have ever seen an old US Army army tent you know what I am talking about, only rigid structure is the vertical support, everything else works in tension. In this case there would be three vertical supports per side not one to utilize a more space efficient shape (aka higher shoulders) so the outer edges would still be useable. Snow would not be an issue, we have not had more then a couple inches since the last ice age.

Sounds like the design has been well proven to me!
The only difference I can see is the plastic sheeting, I doubt that'd be a big problem though. It's get stretchier as the sun warmed it but since the cables and uprights give the strength I can't see a problem with it. Big winds maybe? Sounds promising enough otherwise.
(I always add the disclaimer that I am often misguided in my beliefs mind you! lol)