Air-supported structures

An enclosure is usually an air-supported structure which permits the collection and treatment of gaseous wastes produced by surface impoundments. Enclosures are susceptible to wind damage and can be harmed by the wastes they cover. Subject to these limitations, control effectiveness approaches 100 percent (University of Arkansas and Louisiana State University, 1985). 

There is virtually no size limit to air-supported structures made of fabrics. 

The use of coated fabrics is growing all the time as newer polymers are developed and further applications are found. Tents and awnings have developed into architectural features and air-supported structures. Footwear has become fashioned into sports and leisurewear, and marine applications range from oil booms and inflatables liferafts to... 

R. Blum Tensile membrane structures, in Air Supported Structures The State of the Art, The Institution of Structural Engineers Symposium, London,1980... 

The use of tensile loading is important in many areas of the structures which employ plastics materials. Air-supported structures make use of many plastics materials. While the principles of air-supported structures apply to all types of applications, it is convenient from an end-use point of view to classify them into space structures— outer space, that is—and air-supported structures on the ground. 

Figures 8-26 and 8-27 show several types of air-supported structures. Figure 8-26 shows a simple arch section with spherical sections ends. The perimeter of structures, frequently made of such materials as chlorosulfonated polyethylene (Hypalon elastomer) coated on nylon...

Figure 8-27 shows the next step in the evaluation of air-supported structures. It consists of gas prestressed beam members. The beams are connected by membranes to form either a single membrane or a double membrane structure. The gas-supported beam units are generally made from higher strength sheet materials and the internal pressure levels are in the 1 to 2 psi range. The membrane sheets are attached to the beam members so that in the erected structures they are under tension to form smooth walls capable of supporting substantial structural loads. 

Air-supported structures of both t3q)es have been used as forms on which to cast concrete structures. In addition, some developmental work has been done to rigidize such enclosures by the use of reactive resin systems. In addition to the catalyzed setting up of the resin in the membrane, as in the space structure approach, urethane foam materials (and other reactive foams) have been introduced into the beam elements to replace the gas. 

Radome Also called radiation dome. It is a cover for a microwave antenna used to protect the antenna from the environment on the ground, underwater, and in the air (aircraft nose cone, etc.). The dome is basically transparent to electromagnetic radiation and structurally strong. Different materials have been used such as wood, rubber-coated air-supported fabric, etc. The most popular is the use of glass fiber-TS polyester RPs. The shape of the dome, that is usually spherical, is designed not to interfere with the radiation. 

The main components of an elevated flare system are the flare burner with or without smoke suppression capability, pilot(s), pilot igniter(s), support structure, and piping. A number of optional features are available, such as pilot flame detectors air seals (buoyancy or... 

There have also been revivals of the steam car. Robert McCulloch, the chain-saw millionaire, spent part of his fortune on a steam prototype, called the Paxton Phoenix, between 1951 and 1954. William Lear of Learjet fame, spent 15 million in 1969 on a turbine bus and a 250-horsepower turbine steam car. Both used quiet, efficient steam engines although the bus had reliability problems and poor gas mileage. Lear also tried to enter a steam car into the 1969 Indianapolis 500. The British firm of Austin-Healey was also working on a steam car in 1969. It had four-wheel drive. However, even prosperous entrepreneurs like McCulloch and Lear found that they lacked the means and support structure to successfully mass market a competitive car. Alternative power systems would have to wait until air-quality regulations resulted in some breakthroughs with hybrid and even fuel-cell cars. 

Harvested and delivered whole, the trees are dried in an air-supported fiber glass dome structure over a 30-d period by using waste heat from the combustion process in the adjacent plant (Fig. 5). Trees leave the dome on die conveyor and, at the boiler wall, batches are cut into sections to fit the boiler. These sections are about 8.5 m long for die 100-MW facility studied by EPRI and the Minnesota Power Light Company. 

AIRFORMED CERASHELL is based on the concept of air-supported forming, used successfully for the past 25 years with steel reinforced concrete structures. An airform, or balloon, is designed to inflate to a specific size and shape. Polyurethane foam is sprayed onto the inside surface of the balloon, with concrete as the interior coating. Steel reinforcing bars are pinned to the foam, prior to spraying the con-... 

In the air-sandwich structure, which consists of two disks bonded face to face and separated by a spacer-defined air gap, the substrate becomes the protective layer. Very high quality optical substrates are necessary because the write and read functions take place through the disk. The air gap is advantageous for ablative media. Other related structures have been disclosed in which a thin polymer film is supported physically or aerodynam-ically some distance above the recording surface (12). 

Acid bottles, rubber Air-supported rubber structures Aprons, vulcanized rubber and rubberized fabric—mitse Bags, rubber or rubberized fabric... 

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