Characterizing the mechanical properties of drop stitch inflatable structures
Name
864436024-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
3.65 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
a9061346e9294484677f9ea65a051b7d
Author(s)
DiGiovanna, Lia (Lia Rose)
Advisor(s)
Anette Hosoi.
Date Issued
2013
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
This study investigates the mechanical properties of drop stitch inflatable structures with specific reference to inflatable stand up paddleboards. A sample of drop stitch material was fabricated and simple beam bending tests were performed at different pressures. This data was then used to invalidate a developed model for the deflection of the sample. High standard deviations indicate that the pressure inside the tested sample was changing throughout the duration of the tests. An elastic modulus for the material was determined using the internal pressure. The results showed an elastic modulus on the order of 60 MPa. The fabrication process and results led to the conclusion that one of the main advantages of drop stitch technology is its ability to create unique shapes that are unable to be constructed with an inflatable alone. The results also showed that the beam becomes stiffer with an increase in internal pressure and that simple beam theory is invalid for characterizing drop stitch inflatable structures.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2013.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (page 32).
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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