1. Straight and curved: Recent developments with Tensairity®
Rolf H. Luchsinger
Center for Synergetic Structures
EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research
Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland

2. Introduction

3. Introduction
Tensairity telescope enclosure, 12m, Tenerife, Spain, 2008, Airlight Ltd

4. Introduction
Tensairity roof 38 m, National Tennis Center, London, 2010, Airlight Ltd

5. Straight I: Tensairity column
5 m span, 16 kg mass, 11 kN max load
p = 150 mbar
Plagianakos TS, Teutsch U, Crettol R & Luchsinger RH. Static response of a spindle-shaped Tensairity column to axial compression. Engineering Structures 31, (2009)

6. Straight I: Tensairity column
plain spindle
web spindle
Stiffness: +100 % , Buckling load: +40%
Wever TE, Plagianakos TS, Luchsinger RH, Marti P. Effect of fabric webs on the static response of spindle-shaped Tensairity columns. Journal of Structural Engineering ASCE 136(4), , (2010).

7. ? Straight II: Tensairity beam - Basic principles H
Tension/compression
elements:
Air pressure:
(~ mbar)
Fabric:
(~10 kN/m) ?
(Experiments, FEM)
Deflection:

8. Straight II: Tensairity beam
Compact transport, fast set up, light weight

9. Straight II: Tensairity beam
High load bearing capacity

10. k = ? Tensairity beam: Analytical model
Beam on elastic foundation with compressive forces
k = ?

11. Tensairity beam: Analytical model
Two coupled ODE´s

12. Tensairity beam: Analytical model
BC:
Determination of H

13. Tensairity beam: Analytical model
q=1 kN/m,
q=1 kN/m,
Approximation
(slenderness)

14. Tensairity beam: Analytical model

15. Straight III: Tensairity “madraz”

16. Straight III: Tensairity “madraz”

17. Straight III: Tensairity “madraz”
web - Tensairity
Dimension: 3 x 0.5 x 0.25 m
Weight: kg (3.7 kg metal kg hull) = 4 kg/m2
Load: kN, 2.4 kN/m2, L/D = 60
Deflection: mm, L/128

18. Straight III: Tensairity “madraz”
p = 150 mbar
Beam theory:

19. Straight IV: Foldable Tensairity
De Laet L, Luchsinger RH, Crettol R, Mollaert M, De Temmermann N. Deployable Tensairity Structures. Journal of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures 50 (2), (2009)

20. Curved I: Tensairity arch
ABAQUS/Explicit

21. Curved I: Tensairity arch

22. Curved I: Tensairity arch

23. Curved I: Tensairity arch

24. Curved I: Tensairity arch

25. Curved I: Tensairity arch

26. Curved I: Tensairity arch

27. Curved I: Tensairity arch

28. Curved I: Tensairity arch

29. Curved I: Tensairity arch

30. Curved I: Tensairity arch

31. Curved I: Tensairity arch

32. Curved I: Tensairity arch
10 m span, 90 kg mass, 3.5 ton max load
HP Gasser AG

33. Curved II: Tensairity kite
8 m span, 11m2 area, 3 kg mass, 1 kN max load
Breuer JMC, Luchsinger RH, “Inflatable kites using the concept of Tensairity”. Aerospace Science and Technology. doi: /j.ast (2010)

34. Curved and Straight: Tensairity actuator
Luchsinger RH, Bräker M. A novel pneumatic actuator with Tensairity. In: Brebbia CA (ed.), Design & Nature V, , WIT Press, Southampton (2010)

35. Conclusion
Recently major steps in the R&D of Tensairity have been done
Close interaction between models, experiments, FEM and analysis
Dedicated team

36. Conclusion