Rigid Airship
Buoyant Model
Nov 2022-May 2023
I created a 4-meter long GNVR design rigid airship as my main project for the Senior Independent Study in Advanced Engineering, which I was awarded. The airship features a rigid frame supported by truss lines, maintaining its structural integrity while housing helium-filled gas bags. The body is divided into bulkhead sections, each connected using shiplap joints to create a sturdy, interlocking structure. A lower keel and longitudinal girders further stabilize the frame, reducing flex and distributing tension efficiently.
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Neutral Buoyancy
The airship's buoyancy was carefully calculated to ensure it would remain neutrally or slightly positively buoyant. Using helium gas bags placed throughout the bulkheads, I determined the required lift within a 5% margin of error. Structural weight and helium volume were balanced to allow the airship to float without excessive lift or sagging.
1/2 Scale Model
Before full-scale construction, I built a ½ scale model focusing on Bulkheads 2 and 3. This allowed me to test how the gas bags stabilize within the frame and how the truss system supports the overall shape. The model demonstrated how structural components, including the longitudinal girders, lower keel, and truss lines, contribute to stability and minimize flex.
Construction Process
1. Bent the wood for the bulkheads to create the rigid frame, shaping them to match the airship’s aerodynamic profile.
2. Attached temporary supports to stabilize the bulkheads during the manufacturing process, preventing deformation while additional components were added.
3. Installed longitudinal girders and the lower keel, which serve as the backbone of the structure. These elements reinforce the frame, ensuring it remains rigid and minimizing flex along the length of the airship.
4. Added truss lines using sewing string, connecting the longitudinal girders between each bulkhead section. The truss lines play a key role in distributing tension, reducing unwanted movement, and maintaining the airship’s shape under load.
5. Repeated these steps, starting from the center of the structure and extending outward symmetrically. This method ensured that structural forces were evenly balanced across the airship.
6. Inserted helium-filled gas bags, carefully calculating their shape and volume to achieve neutral buoyancy. Each gas bag was positioned meticulously within the bulkheads to maximize lift and ensure even weight distribution.
