Offset Soft-to-Hard Connectors for Dynamic Load Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connections for joining inflatable structures to rigid structures lack sufficient energy dissipation mechanisms to effectively manage dynamic and cyclic loading events, such as sea-state motions and mechanical shock, which can lead to peak reaction forces that may cause connection failure.
Innovation Solution
A structurally robust, deployable, and removable connection system that utilizes receivers with viscoelastic materials and nested designs to secure chorded elements from inflatable structures. This system includes a rigid host structure with a receiving component that features a mounting track for the chord, allowing for rotation and energy dissipation through friction and damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional rigid connections are used to join inflatable structures to rigid structures, then structural strength is improved, but energy dissipation capacity deteriorates leading to insufficient attenuation of dynamic energies from sea-state motions, wave slap, wind, and mechanical shock
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system uses a composite structure combining rigid components (mounting track, receiver) with viscoelastic material elements. This composite approach allows the rigid parts to provide structural strength while the viscoelastic material provides energy dissipation through hysteresis damping, resolving the contradiction between strength and energy dissipation capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the rate-dependent and frequency-dependent properties of viscoelastic materials to change the connection's mechanical parameters dynamically. Under different loading conditions (static vs dynamic), the material's stiffness and damping characteristics change automatically, providing both strength and energy dissipation as needed.
2Loss of energy
If additional localized devices are added to increase energy dissipation capacity, then dynamic energy attenuation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the energy dissipation function directly into the connection structure itself by integrating viscoelastic material elements within the mounting track and receiver assembly. This eliminates the need for separate localized damping devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced energy dissipation capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The viscoelastic material elements automatically dissipate energy through their inherent hysteresis properties during dynamic loading without requiring external control systems or additional active components. The connection system serves its own energy dissipation needs through the material's intrinsic damping characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The connection system effectively mitigates peel stresses, provides positive locking, and dissipates energy from dynamic and cyclic loads, reducing peak reaction forces and enhancing the structural integrity and reliability of the soft-to-hard goods connections.
Implementation Method 1
receivers having path geometries configured to accept and physically secure one or more chorded elements extending from the inflatable structure... the shock isolation, damping, and friction dissipation performances of the viscoelastic receivers
Implementation Method 2
the shock isolation, damping, and friction dissipation performances of the viscoelastic receivers for mitigating reaction forces from dynamic and cyclic loading events
Data Source
AI summary
A soft-to-hard goods connector is provided which includes an elastomeric bladder having a preform layer and an outer textile layer enclosing the preform layer. The outer textile layer has at least one skin extension layer extending beyond a periphery of the elastomeric bladder. The skin extension layer has a chord attached at a distal end with the chord being perpendicular to the skin extension layer. The connector includes a host rigid structure with a receiving component. The receiving component has a mounting track with the chord mounted in the mounting track. The receiving component permits the chord to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the chord with a limited range of motion.