Air Beam with Stiffening Members and Air Beam Structure

Abstract

An air beam structural member having an elongate pneumatic tubular column, a plurality of stiffening members, and means for connecting the tubular column and the stiffening members. An inflatable shelter includes pneumatic tubular columns (arches) covered on both sides by flexible membranes. The columns are placed side by side to create a wall and enclosure of the space. The pneumatic columns are pressurized and keep their shape by means of a set of cables reinforcing them in the plane of the columns. The structure may be supported by an external support structure.

1 . A structural member comprising:
 (a) an elongate pneumatic tubular column;   (b) a plurality of stiffening members; and   (c) means for connecting the tubular column and the stiffening members.   
   
   
       2 . The structural member of  claim 1 , adapted to form an arch having an inner side and an outer side, the plurality of stiffening members connected with the tubular column on the inner side. 
   
   
       3 . The structural member of  claim 2 , the stiffening members comprising a cable extending between two connectors, the connectors fixed to the tubular column. 
   
   
       4 . An air beam structure comprising:
 (a) a plurality of structural members having
 i. a plurality of elongate pneumatic tubular columns, separated one from another by a gap; 
 ii. a plurality of stiffening members connected with the elongate pneumatic tubular columns; and 
   (b) a flexible membrane covering the plurality of structural members and the gap.   
   
   
       5 . The air beam structure of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 (a) a support structure, above the air beam structure, the support structure adapted to support at least a portion of the structure.   
   
   
       6 . The air beam structure of  claim 5 , the support structure comprising at least two support towers, a support member extending between the at least two support towers. 
   
   
       7 . The air beam structure of  claim 6 , a plurality of support cables extending between the support member and the structural members. 
   
   
       8 . The air beam structure of  claim 5 , wherein the support member is a suspended cable. 
   
   
       9 . The air beam structure of  5 , wherein the support member is a suspended structural beam. 
   
   
       10 . A method of constructing an air beam structure comprising:
 (a) providing an elevated support structure, adapted to support at least a portion of the air beam structure;   (b) providing a plurality of structural members having:
 i. a plurality of elongate pneumatic tubular columns, separated one from another by a gap; 
 ii. a plurality of stiffening members connected with the elongate pneumatic tubular columns; 
   (c) supporting each of the plurality of structural members from the support structure prior to connecting the stiffening members; and   (d) covering the outer side of the structural members with a flexible membrane covering the plurality of structural members and the gap.   
   
   
       11 . A method of determining the size and placement of a plurality of stiffening members for a pneumatic tubular column, comprising:
 (a) selecting a selected stiffening member from the plurality of stiffening members, the selected stiffening member having a stiffness;   (b) adding the stiffness to a system general stiffness matrix if the selected stiffening member is in tension;   (c) subtracting the stiffness from the system general stiffness matrix if the selected stiffening member is in compression; and   (d) repeating steps (a) to (c) for the plurality of stiffening members in order to determine the system general system matrix.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the stiffening member is a tension member. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the tension member is a cable.