Pressure induced stability: from pneumatic structures to Tensairity~

作     者：Rolf H. Luchsinger Mauro Pedretti Andreas Reinhard 

作者机构：Prospective Concepts ag Flughofstrasse 41 8152 Glattbrugg SwitzerlandAirlight Ltd. Via Croce 1 6710 Biasca Switzerland Prospective Concepts ag Flughofstrasse 41 8152 Glattbrugg Switzerland 

出 版 物：《Journal of Bionic Engineering》 (仿生工程学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2004年第1卷第3期

页      面：141-148页

核心收录：

学科分类：08[工学] 080101[工学-一般力学与力学基础] 0801[工学-力学（可授工学、理学学位）] 

主　　题：pneumatic structures tensairity web technology aviation self-repairing membrane 

摘      要：Structural stabilization by a pressurized fluid is very common in nature, however hardly found in technology. Car tires, hot air balloons, airships and airhouses are among the few technical exceptions, which are stabilized by a compressed medium, typically air. Restricted by simple geometries and a very limited load bearing capacity these pneumatic structures could succeed only in very specialized applications. Nevertheless, prospective concepts ag has systematically investigated pneumatic structures during the last few years. As a major result, it was demonstrated that almost any shape can be made with pneumatic structures and that astonishing structures such as the pneumatic airplane Stingray can be realized even with low air pressure. On top of that, Airlight Ltd. in close collaboration with prospective concepts ag has recently developed the fundamental new structural concept Tensairity. The synergetic combination of an inflated structure with conventional structural elements such as cables and struts yields pneumatic light-weight structures with the load bearing capacity of steel girders. Thus, complex forms and high strength open up many new opportunities for pressure induced stability in technology. An overview of these recent developments is presented and the close relationship of pneumatic structures with biology is outlined.