Renovation of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Design and Construction of the Movable Roof

Abstract

This article describes some aspects of the design of the structure and mechanisms of the retractable roof of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

From a structural point of view, the roof consists of two sets of 6 trusses of 72.5 meters, between which 5 inflatable cushions of 8.0 meters wide in PTFE are arranged. Seeking maximum lightness, these trusses are resolved using hybrid composite sandwich chords (combining high-strength fiberglass and carbon fiber) and steel diagonals.

To meet architectural requirements, the mechanisms open and close the roof through a sequential combination of horizontal translation, deployment, and elevation.

This combination of movements allows the retractable roof to be in the open position protected under the fixed roof, and in the closed position to achieve the same level as the fixed roof.