抄録
A new balloon design concept, named 3-D gore design, has been investigated for the development of a large super-pressure balloon capable of carrying a heavy payload. Each gore of the new balloon has a large circular arc between adjacent load tapes without the help of film elongation. This kind of bulge is obtained by adding excess film not only in circumferential but also in meridional directions and by fixing the side line of the gore to the shorter load tape by a controlled shortening ratio. The film tension is zero in the meridian and extremely small in circumference In addition, the maximum pressure of this balloon does not depend on the balloon volume. According to this concept, the balloon can be designed independent of film extensibility, owing to its uniaxial elongation. A super-pressure balloon designed by this concept was demonstrated successfully through the flight test accomplished in May 1999. This design method will be applicable for not only a large balloon but also for an airship and other large flexible structures made by membrane.
