Aim – to design, calculate and come up with an alternate solution for air cargo transportation.
Mission Scenarios
- to design an airship that can give a payload of 2300kg cargo.
- to calculate the dimensions of the airship that will be able to give off that payload.
- to calculate necessary parameters.
Dimensions
- Length – 75.1 m
- Width – 14.2 m
- Height – 17.5 m
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Calculations
- Gross Lift – 123946.2 N/ m^3
- Net Lift – 106691.5 N / m^3
- Net Volume – 9771.6 m^3
- Maximum Volume – 15510.6 m3
- At an altitude of 4000m, σ_p = 0.63. The net volume at sea level is therefore 63% of the total available volume, meaning that the ballonets must occupy the remaining 37%. This problem may be avoided by utilizing vectored thrust and aerodynamic lift at low altitudes for climbing.
- Drag Estimation- 58.2 kN at maximum speed.
- Area- 2985.1 m^2
Formulas Used
- L_G = V_N ρ_A g
- L_N=V_N (ρ_A-ρ_H )g
- m_He=V_N×ρ_He
- V_MAX=m_He/(σ_p×ρ_H0 )
- V_0=m_He/ρ_H0
- D=1/2 ρU^2 AC_D
- Where C_D, is taken 0.144
Gondola Design for Cargo
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Unloading Mechanism
The dimensions of the containers are 40×1340×1600 mm. The container is equipped with 4 swivel wheels, which rotate freely about 360º, enabling to roll the container in any direction;
It has 2 doors with 270º opening. As soon as the airship is at least 1500mm from the ground, the airship cargo door can be opened, all the restraining devices released and then the lifting table approaches the airship. On the last diagram the restraining concept is shown, which will be sent down once the desired altitude is obtained.
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Result
By calculation and designing, a viable model of an airship was produced. The model is marketed to companies searching for alternate solution to air cargo transport and at the same time to be sustainable.