Tensairity
Tensairity (registered trademark[1]) is a light weight structural concept that uses low pressure air to stabilize compression elements against buckling. [2] It employs an ancient foundational splinting structure using inflated airbeams and attached stiffeners or cables that gains mechanical advantages for low mass. Pneumatic structures using tensairity are solving problems.[3][2] The structure modality has been particularly developed by Mauro Pedretti.[4][5]
Known applications
Bridge, band stand,[6] aircraft wing construction,[7] temporary shop and hospitality[8]
Related technology
A related structure modality is tensegrity. Conceivably, an ultralightweight structure evacuated of air would float in the atmosphere, much as a buoy floats in water A crushing load is present destabilizing such structures. However, enclosed-air structures perhaps made of tensairity beams in a tensegrity format holding an enveloping skin could be heated by solar energy and interior activity and then become lighter than air, like hot-air balloons. A torus of 72 inch major diameter and 27 inch minor diameter displaces about 5 pounds of atmosphere, so if the torus weighed less than 5 pounds, and was evacuated, it would be buoyant. Buckminster Fuller designed floating cities (air-filled) so lightweight that they would be buoyant only by the effect of solar heat warming the air within to slightly less density than the surrounding air. As domes, they were about 1/2 mile diameter. As floating spheres, the cities would not experience earthquakes.
References
- ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20130426020536/http://www.technet-alliance.com/uploads/tx_caeworld/Pressure-Induced-Stability_Bionics2004_Tensairity.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 26, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013. Missing or empty
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(help) - 1 2 Tensairity
- ↑ Airlight uses tensairity Archived January 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20110706234332/http://www.ivbh.ch/yes/2008/poster/villiger.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty
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(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110706231523/http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/*/82294/---/l=2. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty
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(help) - ↑ Band stand Archived March 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ An inflatable wing using the principle of Tensairity
- ↑ Tensairity solutions for hospitality