• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.973-986
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• 2015

Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) foil is a novel structural material which has being used in shell and spatial structures. This paper studies biaxial creep property of ETFE foil by creep tests and numerical simulation. Biaxial creep tests of cruciform specimens were performed using three stress ratios, 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2, which showed that creep coefficients in biaxial tension were much smaller than those in uniaxial one. Then, a reduction factor was introduced to take account of this biaxial effect, and relation between the reduction factor and stress ratio was established. Circular bubble creep test and triangle cushion creep test of ETFE foil were performed to verify the relation. Interpolation was adopted to consider creep stress and reduction factor was involved to take account of biaxial effect in numerical simulation. Simulation results of the bubble creep test embraced a good agreement with those measuring ones. In triangle cushion creep test, creep displacements from numerical simulation showed a good agreement with those from creep test at the center and lower foil measuring points.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.85-92
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• 2014

Most of the structural forms in which ETFE film is used are the cushion(pneumatic membrane structures) and tension type(tensile membrane structures), which have been generally accepted to be the most efficient forms. Tensile membrane structures are pulled outward from the exterior to introduce initial stress. And such structures offer the advantage of a natural shape formed by tensile stress and eliminate the need for blast air. Recently, the number of tension type structures is increasing. However, there are problems of creep and relaxation of ETFE films under long-term stresses. In this paper, the stretch fabrication method is proposed for stretching the film into the plastic region during initial tensioning as a way to increase its strength. And its effectiveness is confirmed by investigating experimental and analytical test using ETFE films.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.15-22
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• 2008

• The magazine of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2011

• Proceeding of KASS Symposium
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.53-58
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• 2008

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2009

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.76-81
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• 2009

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2013

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.13-22
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• 2020

As the supply of photovoltaic (PV) increases worldwide, the cumulative installations in 2018 were 7.9 and 560 GW in Korea and the world, respectively. Typically, when the ground on commercial PV modules is installed, the area is limited; hence, new designs of PV modules are required to install additional PVs. Among the new design of PV modules, lightweight PV modules can be utilized in PV systems, such as buildings, farmlands, and floating PV. Concerning the investigation of lightweight PV modules, several studies on materials for replacing low-iron tempered glass, which comprises approximately 65% of the PV module weight, have been conducted. However, materials that are used as substitutes for glass should possess similar lightweight properties and reliability as glass. In this study, experimental tests were performed to evaluate the applicability of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) film with excellent resistance to water and aging as a front material of PV modules. The transmittance and ultraviolet properties of the ETFE film were determined and compared with those of glass. A 1-cell module and laboratory-scale 24-cell module were manufactured using the ETFE film and glass, and the electrical output was measured and analyzed. Furthermore, damp heat and thermal cycle tests were conducted to evaluate the reliability of the ETFE film module. Based on the experimental results, the electrical output and reliability of the ETFE film module were similar to those of the glass module, and the ETFE film could be used as the front material of PV modules.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.149.2-149.2
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• 2013

친 환경적 소재인 ETFE (Ethylene Tetra Fluoro Ethylene)는 내화학성과 단열성을 가지며 탁월한 빛투과성, 자정효과 및 초경량 소재의 특성을 가진 열가소성 불소수지로서 서울시 신청사, Water Cube라고 많이 알려진 베이징 올림픽 수영 경기장 같은 대형 건축물의 외벽에 사용될 만큼 최근 세계 각국의 건축가들에게 각광을 받고 있다. 본 실험에서는 영구자석을 이용한 고밀도 플라즈마로 높은 점착성과, 균일한 박막 및 대면적 공정이 가능한 RF-magnetron sputtering방법으로 기판인 Slide glass위에 ETFE를 증착하여 접촉각의 변화와 구조적 및 광학적 특성에 대하여 측정하였다. 접촉각 측정결과 35w에서 $15^{\circ}$ 이하의 친수 특성을 나타내었고, 자외선 파장에서의 투과율 측정 결과 87% 이상의 높은 투과율을 나타내었다. AFM (Atomic Force Microscope) 측정결과 35 W에서 1.6 nm의 RMS (Root mean square)값이 측정 되었다. ETFE 특성은 비가 오면 자동으로 이물질이 씻겨 내려 주기적으로 청소를 해줘야하는 유리보다 유지관리비가 적게 될 것으로 사료되고, 높은 자외선 투과율을 보임으로 온실에서 균형 잡힌 식물 성장을 위한 화학약품의 소모를 줄여 줄 것으로 사료된다.