Air-supported structure

An air-supported (or air-inflated) structure is any building that derives its <a href="/facts/Structural_integrity_and_failure/5aYoMIlw">structural integrity</a> from the use of internal pressurized <a href="/facts/Air/hQ95Jznz">air</a> to inflate a pliable material (i.e. structural fabric) <a href="/facts/Building_envelope/CMRlLol6">envelope</a>, so that air is the main support of the structure, and where access is via <a href="/facts/Airlock/0W9ruNBq">airlocks</a>.
The first air-supported structure built in history was the <a href="/facts/Radome/cuxAdLHL">radome</a> manufactured at the <a href="/facts/Calspan/fsAVXaPA">Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory</a> in 1948 by Walter Bird.
The concept was implemented on a large scale by <a href="/facts/David_H._Geiger/z6KjeJMc">David H. Geiger</a> with the United States pavilion at <a href="/facts/Expo_%2770/fpJcnlEJ">Expo '70</a> in <a href="/facts/Osaka,_Japan/sbS1N7sl">Osaka, Japan</a> in 1970.
It is usually <a href="/facts/Dome/vcv5uuXj">dome-shaped</a>, since this shape creates the greatest <a href="/facts/Volume/aeAXCBUd">volume</a> for the least amount of material. To maintain structural integrity, the structure must be pressurized such that the internal <a href="/facts/Pressure/eyc37GRG">pressure</a> equals or exceeds any external pressure being applied to the structure (i.e. <a href="/facts/Wind/Nt0QIu5B">wind</a> pressure). The structure does not have to be airtight to retain structural integrity—as long as the pressurization system that supplies internal pressure replaces any air leakage, the structure will remain stable. All access to the structure interior must be equipped with some form of airlock—typically either two sets of parallel doors or a <a href="/facts/Revolving_door/bXJTQLXz">revolving door</a> or both. Air-supported structures are secured by heavy weights on the ground, <a href="/facts/Earth_anchor/cbDhURxN">ground anchors</a>, attachment to a foundation, or a combination of these.
Among its many uses are: sports and recreation facilities, <a href="/facts/Warehousing/BthIekUE">warehousing</a>, temporary shelters, and radomes. The structure can be either wholly, partial, or roof-only air supported. A fully air-supported structure can be intended to be a temporary or semi-temporary facility or permanent, whereas a structure with only an air-supported roof can be built as a permanent building.

Air-supported structure open-in-new

Air-supported structure