Abstract
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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
TOPHAM S. Blow up: Inflatable Art, Architecture and Design. Prestel Verlag, München, 2002.
OTTO F, TROSTEL R. Zugbeanspruchte Konstruktionen. Ullstein Fachverlag, Frankfurt, 1962.
HERZOG T, MINKE G, EGGERS H. Pneumatische Konstruktionen. Gerd Hatje, Stuttgart, 1976.
ONATE E, KRöPLIN B (eds). Textile Composites and Inflatable Structures. CIMNE Publication, Barcelona, 2003.
SCHOCK H-J. Segel, Folien und Membranen. Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, 1997: 102–105.
L′ Garde Inc. Inflatable Space Structures. http://www.lgarde.com/, 2004.
Vertigo Inc. Airbeam Maintenance Shelter. http://vertigo-inc.com/, 2004.
e.g. GEOSKOP, Journal GEO, 1998, Nr.6(7): 178–180.
For an overview of the projects of prospective concepts ag see: http://www.prospective-concepts.ch/, 2004.
LUCHSINGER R H, PEDRETTI A, STEINGRUBER P, PEDRETTI M. The new structural concept Tensairity: Basic principles. A. Zingoni (ed). Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation. A.A. Balkema/Swets Zeitlinger, Lisse, 2004.
PEDRETTI A, STEINGRUBER P, PEDRETTI M, LUCHSINGER R H. The new structural concept Tensairity: FE-modeling and applications. A. Zingoni (ed). Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation. A.A.Balkema /Swets Zeitlinger, Lisse, 2004.
For more applications of Tensairity see: http://www.airlight.biz/, 2004.
SPATZ H-CH, KöHLER L, SPECK TH. Biomechanics and functional anatomy of hollow-stemmed sphenopsids: I. Equisetum giganteum. American Journal of Botany, 1998, 85: 305–314.
VOGEL S. Comparative Biomechanics. Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2003, pp 413–415.
SPECK T, MASSELTER T, PRüM B, SPECK O, LUCHSINGER R H. Smart Materials: light-weight structures with variable stiffness and self-repair mechanisms, First International Industrial Conference Bionik, German, 2004
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Luchsinger, R.H., Pedretti, M. & Reinhard, A. Pressure induced stability: from pneumatic structures to Tensairity®. J Bionic Eng 1, 141–148 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03399470
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03399470