Three-Dimensional Gore Design Concept for High-Pressure Balloons

Self Cite

A zero-pressure balloon used for scientific observation in the stratosphere has an unmanageable limitation that its floating altitude decreases during a nighttime because of temperature drop of the lifting gas. Since a super-pressure balloon may not change its volume, the lifetime can extend very long. We had introduced so called the 'lobed-pumpkin' type of super-pressure balloon that can realize a full-scale long-duration balloon and it will be in practical use in the very near future. As for larger super-pressure balloons, however, we still have some potential difficulties to be resolved. We here propose a new design suitable for a larger super-pressure balloon, which is roughly 'lobed pumpkin with lobed cylinder' and can adapt a single design for balloons of a wide range of volumes. Indoor inflation tests were successfully carried out with balloons designed and made by the method. It has been shown that the limit of the resisting pressure differential for a new designed balloon is same as that of a normal lobed-pumpkin balloon.

“…This shape, 'lobed pumpkin,' is essentially actualized without film extension by stress 1,2) . Here, we define the ratio,…”

Section: Pumpkin Balloon and Lobed Pumpkin Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a Super-Pressure Balloon with an Improved Design

Izutsu

Akita

Fuke

et al. 2010

Self Cite

“…A full-scale SPB for practical use had not been realized for a long time because it requires fairly high pressure strength. This problem, however, was overcome when the lobedpumpkin type of SPB was proposed by Yajima et.al 1) . Since then, the development of lobed-pumpkin SPB has been undertaken both in ISAS/JAXA and in NASA independently.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deployment Instabilities of Lobed-Pumpkin Balloon

Nakashino

2012

A lobed-pumpkin balloon, currently being developed in ISAS/JAXA as well as in NASA, is a promising vehicle for long duration scientific observations in the stratosphere. Recent ground and flight experiments, however, have revealed that the balloon has deployment instabilities under certain conditions. In order to overcome the instability problems, a next generation SPB called 'tawara' type balloon has been proposed, in which an additional cylindrical part is appended to the standard lobed-pumpkin balloon. The present study investigates the deployment stability of tawara type SPB in comparison to that of standard lobed-pumpkin SPB through eigenvalue analysis on the basis of finite element methods. Our numerical results show that tawara type SPB enjoys excellent deployment performance over the standard lobed-pumpkin SPBs.

“…Usually membrane elements are connected to supporting members through a finite number of discrete connective points 4,5) . Combined elements of membranes and cables can be effectively used 4,6) , because the distributed loads applied to membranes are conveyed to cables as concentrated loads. Inflatable tubes are also made up of membranes, and the combined use of membranes with cable networks is effective 7) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Models of Membrane Space Structures with Inflatable Tubes

Katsumata

Fujii

Natori

et al. 2010

Three models of deployable membrane space structures consisting of a membrane, inflatable tubes, and connective cable networks are investigated with the aim of developing suitable modules for future hierarchical modular space structure systems on a scale of hundreds of meters. To a flat spirally folded membrane, inflatable tubes are attached in the circumferential direction, the radial direction, or both. Deployment experiments on laboratory-scale hand-made conceptual models are carried out, and their details are presented. The deployment of inflatable tubes in three different folding patterns is also studied, and smooth deployment of the tube in a modified zigzag folding pattern is demonstrated.