ETFE-foil cushions belong to the lightweight constructionmethods. These structures lead to ecological and economical advantages ostensibly because of its low weight. However, the transparent air inflated cushions are advantageous in more than this one and only discipline. ETFE-foil cushions also fulfill the second and the third criteria of lightweight constructions. They can be designed as intelligent systems fulfilling several functions additional to the load transfer and, a priori, they constitute very efficient structures which follow the best pathway of forces a load can take to the primary structure and, at last, to the ground. The thin tension elements of ETFE foils, placed at the boundary surface of the cushion, combined with the inner compression element of inflated air lead to a very effective way of building. Therefore ETFE-foil cushions tap the full potential of the three kinds of minimization concerning light constructions: building with light materials, building with light systems and building with light structures.
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