Pneumatic structures in motion

Abstract

The possibility of movement is a fundamental property in nature. Movement means adaptability and flexibility which protects creatures better from their own ruin and destruction, but also ensures preeminence over other species. Adaptability and flexibility allow responding to different requirement in an equal way. This should be desirable for artificial structures, but still only few existing buildings are able to react to changing environmental influences, like the few stadiums with a flexible roof or the few movable bridges. Usually our buildings and structures are passive. They are built to satisfy more or less only one function. But due to massive chances in society, this does not meet today's multifunctional requirements and it is not economical any more. Resulting out of this, new tasks for engineering evoke. But it makes only sense, if the structures are light, not only concerning appearance but also in weight. Heavy structures do not only need more energy to be put into motion, but also the possible movement will be justified less accurate. Vice versa the use of high-capacity materials leads to new possibilities in design, construction and movement. Pneumatic constructions fulfill this claim of light weight and if ETFEFilms are used they allow transparency as well as ultraviolet rays passes them. This makes them quite desirable for indoor swimming pools - the marketing likes to advertise that guest get a tan even in winter. But certainly in summer, outdoor swimming has to be available; therefore a multifunctional roof is needed