Abstract
Membrane and foil structures have become over the last decades an attractive alternative to conventional materials and building systems with increasing implementation in different typologies and scale. The development of transparent, light, flexible and resistant materials like Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) has triggered a rethinking of the building envelope in the building industry towards lightweight systems. ETFE foil cushions have proven to fulfil the design requirements in terms of structural efficiency and aesthetic values. But the strategies to satisfy increasing demands of energy efficiency and comfort conditions are still under development. The prediction and manipulation of the thermo-optical behaviour of ETFE foil cushion structures currently remain as one of the main challenges for designers and manufacturers. This paper reviews ongoing research regarding the control of the thermo-optical performance of ETFE cushion structures and highlights challenges and possible improvements. An overview of different dynamic and responsive environmental control mechanisms for multilayer foil constructions is provided and the state of the art in building application outlined by the discussion of case studies
Highlights
The energy performance of the building envelope is becoming increasingly important since the building sector is held responsible for more than one-third of the worldwide energy consumption, according to the International Energy Agency
Pressurised multi-layered cushions of thin Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) foil are increasingly applied in building envelopes and are considered state of the art since the contributions of Frei Otto initiated the evolution of lightweight building over sixty years ago [1]
A variety of environmental control mechanisms for multilayer foil constructions has been outlined and their function and application in building envelopes has been discussed through a range of case studies
Summary
The energy performance of the building envelope is becoming increasingly important since the building sector is held responsible for more than one-third of the worldwide energy consumption, according to the International Energy Agency. The integration and automatization of these mechanisms into complex fenestration systems and high-tech building facades has become a reality and opens possibilities for further optimisation of the energy performance and improvement of comfort conditions in the built environment. Dynamic environmental control systems, including responsive shading mechanisms, could be a possible solution for the negative effects of overheating and glare, but despite their broad application in complex fenestration systems, they have not yet arrived at the same level of development in membrane and foil constructions. The most widely used techniques are frit prints of reflective inks and combinations of different layer type compositions These techniques are not sufficient during peak climatic conditions, and the integration of dynamic environmental control mechanisms into multilayer ETFE cushions remains a design objective alongside multiple approaches from the past. The following literature review is an attempt to provide an overview of the latest developments and state of the art in the building sector of membrane structures regarding the environmental control of multilayer foil constructions
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