SHAPE AND STRESS ANALYSIS OF ROTATIONALLY SYMMETRIC BALLOONS

摘要

This report considers the title problem from a general point of view. The governing differential equations are derived;and for specified stress conditions the shape equations which yield "natural shape" balloons, "equal strength" balloons, etc., are obtained. Throughout the report the resulting equations are correlated with the corresponding results derived and used by previous investigators. It is pointed out that the tabulated shapes which are used in prescribing the initial shapes of tailored balloons are actually those of deformed balloons. Therefore, when the shape of the balloon floating at altitude differs noticeably from its initial design form because of the deformations of the skin, the desired stress condition will not be realized.