Typology, basic shapes and range of application

The above descriptions of the various projects show that there are no limitations in principle to the great variety of shapes in ETFE-foil constructions. As pneumatically pre-stressed foil cushions or as single-layer mechanically pre-stressed foil membranes, anticlastically or synclastically curved surfaces can be formed across nearly any ground plan. The feasible spans of the foil constructions vary according to the ground plan geometry, boundary conditions, construction system, and load effect. 

Evaluation of the more than 200 ETFE-foil projects in the indicated time period produces the percentage distributions shown in Figs 6.21-6.23  

The evaluations show that the ETFE-foil construction method had a distinct concentration in Europe in the years between 1980 and 2006. Over 90% of the foil projects were built in Europe. In the last few years, however, increased application of foils as building envelopes can be observed in Asia. The backlog of demand in this region in the field of foil construction is obvious. The Summer Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing with the construction 

20 Basic boundary geometries of ETFE-foii constructions. 

21 Distribution by percentage of ground plan geometry and type of construction of ETFE-foii constructions (evaluations of 200 ETFE-foil projects, time period 1980-2006). 

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