Air-supported structure

An air-supported structure, also called Pneu, is a above a solid bottom plate ( usually concrete) inflated elastic airtight envelope. The hall is entered via a pressure lock. It must constantly a fan work so that the slight positive pressure is maintained inside the air dome.

Air Domes are cheaper and faster than built massive halls. They are therefore often used as temporary for warehouses, exhibition halls or gyms. With a airdome an outdoor pool in winter can be converted into a carrier air indoor pool. Airdomes also be used as a radar dome ( radome ).

A variety of air-supported structure is the inflatable roof. Here the elastic and placed under positive pressure in the form of shell forms a roof for an otherwise conventionally engineered building. The advantages of this design are that compared to the pure air dome larger and against the wind less sensitive buildings can be built which, unlike purely conventional buildings, need no roof construction.

One of the most famous German airdomes was in Augsburg- Haunstetten. It was used as an ice rink. Due to the hurricane Kyrill, the hall was destroyed and then replaced by a solid construction. A large existing air dome in the German-speaking area is the 49 meter diameter radome Raisting, which houses an antenna for satellite communications. One of the largest air-supported structures in the world is the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo Bunkyō -ku, which offer 55,000 guests and is used as a baseball stadium, and for major concerts.