Lightweight textile structures

Already many lightweight membrane structures are in existence, and an increasing number of them are planned for the future, e.g. football stadium roofs. For such structures the combination of materials produces widely differing properties. Some projects are very cost-effective, while others are used for more expensive building constructions. Some constructions are of a temporary nature, some are erected at a fixed location some are required to be portable, while others may remain in place for decades. Textile roofs or walls may be open or closed according to the time of day or the position of the sun others stay fixed in one position. Some materials are required to have high translucency others may be designed for maximum insulation. 

There are several concluding remarks as a result of presented research on PV awnings. Firstly, even if the PV cells based on amorphous silicon are four times less efficient in terms of electrical energy produced per surface unit than those made of monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon, currently they are the only possible solution for the integration to textile structures. They are lightweight, thin and flexible and their efficiency per unit mass unit is better than those of two other rigid solutions (monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon). 

Finally, in the last few years some interesting research results in the field of technologies called tandem a-Si/GeSi-a and on organic polymer-based thin, lightweight and flexible PV cells have been published, and it would be interesting to verify the possibility of their integration to textile structures, efficiency, etc. 

The use of Kevlar has been confined to specialised applications 98), where high mechanical performance and lightweight properties are essential, because of its present relatively high cost compared with conventional textile materials. These applications can be conveniently divided into two main categories, one where the fibres alone form the final product such as in cables and fabrics and the other where they act as reinforcing elements for the production of composite structures. 

SPMs can now be found in commercial markets and specialty clothing due to their lightweight structure, liquid and aerosol repellent properties, and facilitation of moisture vapor transport. However, for military use, SPMs have limitations (Wilusz 2007). SPMs may act as liquid-repellents but may allow vapors to pass and therefore need an activated carbon layer to add extra protection capabilities. Moreover, military garments experience tremendous stress on a day-to-day basis. SPM-based ensembles are more susceptible to tearing as compared to activated carbon-based textile fabrics (Wilusz 2007). Optimizing the permselectivity of the membrane by surface modification or other such techniques is necessary to achieve a balance between comfort (e.g., moisture vapor transmission) and chemical vapor barrier properties. Furthermore, SPMs or membrane-carbon ensembles must possess acceptable mechanical strength to sustain daily military operations. 

Key words lightweight construction, textile building materials, structural behaviour, physical characteristics. 

Because textile materials are lightweight, flexible and strong polymers and biological tissues are themselves fibrous polymers, with very similar dimensional, physical and mechanical properties, they have found numerous applications as bioimplants. From their use as sutures and ligatures many thousands of years ago, to hernia repair meshes and vascular grafts in the present century, textiles continue to be explored for use in newer and better performing medical products. The currently available implants can be categorized as one-, two- or three-dimensional structures. 

Even the fabric used to construct a small tent is enough to provide a few hundred watts. In addition to textile architecture, panels made from robust solar textile fabrics could be positioned on the roofs of existing buildings. Compared to conventional and improper solar panels for roof structures lightweight and flexible solar textile panels is able to tolerate load-bearing weight without shattering. 

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