On the Mechanical Behaviour of ETFE-films: Elastic Range, Yielding Conditions, Break Determined by Different Test Methods and the Influence of the Results on the Analysis of ETFE-Structures

The analysis of structures made of ETFE-films has been typically limited to the elastic range of the material behaviour. Here the following items are discussed from theoretical and practical aspects: Yield point, yield conditions, hardening, behaviour under cyclic loading and failure. On this base, the most important properties of ETFE-material for analysis will be derived. The respective tests are defined and new test results will be presented.