Abstract: A multipurpose arena with a suspended roof and an interior which can be adjusted to accommodate events requiring different space arrangements. The roof is made of sections suspended between opposed supporting pylons and assumes a catenary shape. Rail-mounted, motor-driven, stands can be shifted from place to place depending on the event or events being catered. Partitions divide the arena into separate private compartments wherein separate events can be held simultaneously in each compartment.

Abstract: A device for measuring woven fabric stress. The device includes a vacuum chamber having high rigidity; a vacuum pump for reducing the pressure in the vacuum chamber; a pressure gauge; a fabric displacement measuring device; and a fabric stress calculator. The vacuum chamber has an opening for sealing engagement with a surface of a fabric under atmospheric pressure. Upon evacuating the air from the vacuum chamber, the atmospheric pressure against the opposite surface of the fabric distends a portion of the fabric into the vacuum chamber. The measure of fabric distension and the reduced pressure reading in the vacuum chamber are transmitted to the fabric stress calculator, which compares the readings to compute a fabric stress reading.