tensile structures and normals

[salf]

Ok, im doing a big project where the atrium roof is a tensile structure, I already have it modelled, in autocad.

 

The problem is this, straight out of Acad, the tensile membrane renders only in teh exterior views, internal views wont render unless I FLIP NORMALS, now, there are parts in teh interior views that I cna actually see the membrane outter part, but since I flipped normals I doesnt render, dunno if you understand.

 

Also, the membrane material is a cream color and a little trasnparent, so I can see the outside tensor and stuff, this is ok, however I also want to see the structure casting shadows on the membrane, and this isnt working, this is my main concern, the first one I could just move the camera a little, but Im not getting any shadows casted on teh membrane.

 

Why?

[Ricardo Eloy]

Hum... little confusing, but have you tried a 2-sided material? Or maybe a very thin shell modifier.

[salf]

ok, gonna post 3 images:

 

- Theres one with palm trees and tables, etc, well that was my first attempt, but the membrane was a solid white color, no transparent at all.

 

-Theres another image, smaller, with no tables or trees, with half the light calculation, was the one I tried last night, the membrane is lighter , a little more transparent, however Its not receiving any shadows fomr the outside structure

 

-Finally theres a third image, not done by me, that shows what I want, you can see the membrane a little transparent, and it clearly shows all the shadows casted on it by the outisde structure, this is what I want to do.