Date of Award

Summer 8-2025

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Open-Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Committee Advisor

Bill Davids

Second Committee Member

Senthil Vel

Third Committee Member

Masoud Rais-Rohani

Abstract

Inflatable textile technologies, namely braided air beams and drop-stitch panels, have seen increasing popularity due to their wide variety of applications in civil and military use. Their lightweight nature, small packed volume, and ease of deployment make these structures suitable for a variety of military and civilian applications. Braided air beams have been used in constructing fabric arch shelters and show promise with their high shear modulus to elastic modulus ratio but lack a large useable surface area. Drop-stitch panels are a technology where coated fabric skins are connected by drop yarns which give the inflated structure a large useable surface area. Recent research has shown that shear deformations play a large role in the deformation of these panels, and the connecting drop-yarns can decrease the carrying capacity of drop-stitch panels. The primary objective of this research was to improve the stiffness and capacity of drop-stitch panels and reduce the effect of shear deformations. This was tested using two methods of shear reinforcement. The first method, consisting of two braided air beams inserted axially along the span of a drop-stitch panel, showed modest improvement when the braids were inflated to higher pressures and no improvement at similar pressures. This method also proved difficult to construct. The second method, which replaced the traditional 0-90 woven sidewall with a braid at a braid angle of 54.7°, greatly simplified the manufacturing process. This newer method did show improvement at all spans and pressures although the improvement was more modest at larger spans and higher pressures where shear deformations are smaller. The most improvement was seen at the shortest span of 4 ft and the lowest pressure of 5 psi, where improvement in overall stiffness of nearly 25% was observed.

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