Completely open foldable tent construction, still closable in strong wind (UAR.6640)

Project nummer: uar6640

Omschrijving van het onderzoek

Telescopes have to operate in the open air without any objects nearby to reach the highest spatial resolution. At the same time, they must be protected from environmental influences when not in use. A revolutionary new solution is a foldable tent construction based on tensing the cloth between movable but still stiff bows. The cloth parts are tensed in saddle shape for maximum stability against wind. Experiences with a first, very experimental tent of 7m diameter for the Dutch Open Telescope (DOT) at a height of 2350m on the Canary Island La Palma are very promising. This new solution needs a thorough scientific basis concerning a reliable way to calculate strength, stiffness and deformations. Essential are extensive measurements in all possible weather conditions on realized foldable tent constructions, at the moment two experimental prototypes DOT and GREGOR.

Utilization
A first utilization is the construction of a tent with 9m diameter for the GREGOR telescope at the Observatorio del Teide on Tenerife with significant improvements. The research must give insight into the best way to construct this type of tent: how to obtain maximum strength and stiffness with a construction as simple as possible. It must show where the limitations are when the diameter of these tents scales up. There is much interest in applications for astronomical instruments. There will be a much larger market for many other applications, like protection of radar and laser installations on land and on ships, and recreative objects like swimming pools. Large diameters are of high interest to exhibition areas and attraction parks.

Projectleider

Dr.ir. R.H. Hammerschlag

Universiteit Utrecht
Natuur- en Sterrenkunde
Sterrekundig Instituut

Postbus 80000
3508 TA Utrecht

Status van het project

Gestart	: 01-01-2006
Einddatum	: 01-04-2010

Trefwoorden

Bescherming, Koepel, Openklapbare koepel, Staalconstructie, Sterrenkunde, Telescoop, Tent, Windbelasting

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