A Mathematical Model for the Strained Shape of a Large Scientific Balloon at Float Altitude

Abstract

A large scientific balloon is constructed from long flat tapered sheets of thin polyethylene film called gores which are sealed edge to edge to form a complete shape. The balloon is designed to carry a fixed payload to a predetermined altitude. Its design shape is based on an axisymmetric model that assumes that the balloon film is inextensible and that the circumferential stresses are zero. While suitable for design purposes, these assumptions are not valid for a real balloon. In this paper, we present a variational approach for computing strained balloon shapes at float altitude. Our model is used to estimate the stresses in the balloon film under various loads and for different sets of material constants. Numerical solutions are computed. [S0021-8936(00)02201-7]

Front Matter

“…A noticeable exception to this rule is the case of balloons, whether those used in sports or those used for the exploration of the high atmosphere, which should definitely be modeled by the nonlinear membrane shell model (inspiring accounts about high attitude balloons viewed from an engineering and computational mechanics perspective are found in Baginski & Collier [2000 and Baginski & Schur [2003]).…”

Super Pressure Balloon Non-Linear Structural Analysis and Correlation Using Photogrammetric Measurements

“…A variational formulation has been used in the structural analysis of balloon shapes, including the ULDB pumpkin design. [8][9] Specially developed in-house finite element analysis codes, such as the Goodyear Shell program have played important roles. Commercial finite element analysis programs have not only been applied to the balloon area, but also to areas where attributes of the fabric material architecture are important.…”

Nonuniqueness of strained ascent shapes of high altitude balloons

“…However, the formulation of the problem in Baginski (1996) did not include strain energy. In Baginski and Collier (2000) and Baginski and Brakke (1998), the film and load tendon strain energies were included for cyclic shapes modeled by a half-gore. Baginski (2002) considered lobed balloon shapes with internal folds, but without wrinkling.…”