Researchers Make Shelters Lighter by Blowing Them Up

Abstract

Researchers are testing inflatable textile air beam technology to provide quick, lightweight, and easily constructed alternatives to current temporary aircraft shelters. The air beams are made with a lightweight, high-strength fiber outer material and a plastic inner tube, and are inflated to a high air pressure to provide a rigid frame. The shelters feature high strength under applied loads, high stiffness, low weight, and will withstand an overload without damage. Emergency personnel could rapidly deploy and erect these shelters during a natural emergency for temporary use as a command post or medical facility. (3 figures)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 31, 2002
Accession Number
ADA426118

Entities

People

  • Reza Salavani

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Air Pressure
  • Aircrafts
  • Bare Bases
  • Department Of Defense
  • High Pressure
  • Inner Tubes
  • Lightweight
  • Maintenance Equipment
  • Materials
  • Military Research
  • Overload
  • Shipping Containers
  • Tubes
  • Vehicle Equipment
  • Weight

Readers

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