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Publicatie

Deployable Tensairity Structures

Boekbijdrage - Boekhoofdstuk Conferentiebijdrage

The efficient and lightweight structural concept Tensairity can be used for a variety of applications,
ranging from large span structures to temporary constructions. Tensairity structures provide features
few conventional structures have, such as a fast assembling/dismantling, collapsibility, and a
compact storage and transport volume. These are all aspects ideal for mobile and temporary
applications. However, this structural concept would be even more appropriate for these kinds of
structures if it would be capable to be folded or rolled together with having to disassemble anything,
which a basic Tensairity girder is not able to. This paper presents the research of deployable
Tensairity structures. Various foldable alternatives for the continuous compression element in a
standard Tensairity beam are investigated experimentally. Several proposals for a flexible
compression element are evaluated and discussed. The influence on a promising mechanism, the
foldable truss, of different parameters such as the amount of hinges and the presence of
pretensioned cables, is also studied and discussed. Finally, all these results are summarized and they
will then provide the basis for further research for a proposal of an optimised deployment
mechanism for the deployable Tensairity structure.
Boek: Proceedings of the IASS-SLTE Symposium 2008, Acapulco, Mexico, "New materials and technologies, new designs and innovations"
Series: Proceedings of the IASS-SLTE Symposium 2008, Acapulco, Mexico, "New materials and technologies, new designs and innovations"
Aantal pagina's: 11
Jaar van publicatie:2008
Trefwoorden:Tensairity, Inflatable, Pneumatic, Deployable, Foldable, Mobile, Lightweight, Tensile structure
  • ORCID: /0000-0002-7382-3310/work/84644843