Buoyancy control is identified as a significant problem in airships, past and present. An existing proposal to enhance the control of buoyancy in lighter-than-air aircraft is reviewed, and a new method of buoyancy control (the inflatable vacuum chamber) is proposed. The differences between the existing proposal and new proposal are highlighted, including the new possibility of an airship that lands vertically onto the ground without a mooring mast, a ground handling party, or a runway. Theory of lightweight stiff inflatable structures is discussed and a specific design and construction method is proposed. The design is optimized and confirmed elastically stable; design specifications are given. A typical operation cycle (including liftoff, flight, and touchdown) is detailed. An area of potential theoretical advancement is identified.


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    Title :

    Airship Buoyancy Control Using Inflatable Vacuum Chambers


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Journal of Aircraft ; 50 , 4 ; 1001-1010


    Publication date :

    2013-06-13


    Size :

    10 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





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