- uirf Airship Technology G. A. Khoury Imperial College, London, and The Airship Association J. D. Gillett Formerly of Brunei University and The Airship Association CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Contents Preface Acknowledgements page xi xii Chapter 1 Introduction (G. A. Khoury and J.D. Gillett) 1 Chapter 2 Basic Principles (E. Mowforth) 5 Introduction 5 Principles of aerostatics 5 The aerostatics of the airship 11 The aerodynamics of the airship 17 Unconventional designs 20 Chapter 3 Aerodynamics (/. Cheeseman) 25 Basic Assumptions 25 Drag 28 Dynamic forces 39 Slender body theory 46 An estimation method for overall aerodynamic forces and moments 49 Unsteady aerodynamics 55 Aerodynamic parameter estimation 59 References 70 Chapter 4 Stability and Control {M.V. Cook) 73 Introduction 73 System of axes and notation 75 The equations of motion 76 The linearised equations of motion 83 Dynamic stability analysis 88 Control and response 96 Automatic flight control 102 Flying and handling qualities 104 Acknowledgements 104 References 104 Symbols 105 Subscripts 106 Stability and control derivatives 106 Chapter 5 Propulsion (/. Cheeseman) 107 Introduction 107 The propulsor 107 The prime mover 129
viii Airship Technology Energy sources 133 Propulsion, performance and control 135 References 139 Chapter 6 Materials (P. Bradley) 141 Introduction 141 Desirable properties for airship textile materials 141 Development of textiles for airship use 142 Properties of envelope materials 153 Improved laminates 162 Summary 162 References 163 Chapter 7 Structures (C. Luffman) 165 Introduction 165 Historical 166 General principles and considerations 166 Principal structural groups 177 References 209 Chapter 8 Aerostatics (J. Craig) 211 Introduction 211 The atmosphere 212 Contained gas 215 Buoyancy and static lift 216 Summary of airship operations 218 Other factors affecting lift 221 Closed or open 222 Airship balance 224 Derivation of gas mass properties 228 Terms and abbreviations used 233 Chapter 9 Weight Estimates and Control (J. Craig) 235 Airship mass properties 235 Design considerations for weight 239 Weight estimation 242 Weight monitoring and control 267 Build weight control and actual airship weight determination 267 Weights aspects of airship operations 269 Chapter 10 Systems (N. Mayer) 273 Introduction 273 Pressure control 273 Fuel 282 Ballast 284
Contents ix Electrical 285 Crew 288 Access and maintenance 290 Emergency 292 Auxiliary thrust 294 Replenishing 295 References 296 Chapter 11 Ground Handling and Mooring (D. Howe) 297 Introduction 297 Survey of the ground handling problem 299 Ground handling and mooring requirements 300 Historical review of ground handling techniques 302 Forces on an airship whilst moored 309 The effect of size on ground handling 314 Future ground handling systems 315 Conclusion 319 Chapter 12 Piloting (D. Bums) 321 Introduction 321 Effects of controls 322 Static heaviness 323 Effects of wind 326 Weather 327 Vectored thrust 331 Ground handling 333 Take-off 334 Pressure height (altitude) 337 Free ballooning 338 Landing 339 Chapter 13 Performance (R. Hunt) 345 Mission considerations 345 Maximum 'in-flight' fuel usage 345 Engine selection 347 Power off-take 350 Engine drives and propellers 351 Ship weight 352 Gas lift 352 Airship sizing 354 Effect of wind 356 Chapter 14 Improvements (E. Mowforth) 359 Introduction 359 Buoyancy control by lifting gas manipulation 359
x Airship Technology Boundary layer control 371 Stern propulsion 377 Lenticular geometry 380 Chapter 15 Unconventional Designs (GA. Khoury) 385 Introduction 385 Shape 385 Lift 392 Power source 409 Structural configuration 417 Lifting gas 426 Control 428 Payload 434 References 436 Chapter 16 Solar Power (GA. Khoury) 441 Introduction 441 Outline of the 'Sunship' 442 Solar radiation 444 Solar-powered flight speed 448 Components of the solar power system 458 References 473 Chapter 17 Roles and economic considerations (R. Hillsdon) 475 Introduction 475 The utility of airship types 475 The spectrum of potential roles 483 Role suitability 492 The potential market 496 Airship economics 500 Conclusion 504 References 504 Chapter 18 Design Synthesis (B.G. Wilson) 507 Introduction 507 Preliminary comments 507 Baseline design layout 514 Baseline evaluation 517 Design trades and sensitivities 521 Technology trends 528 Design synthesis 530 Index 535