Carbonfiber-Based Structural Elements used in the Truss Structures of the Zeppelin NT and Future Applications of Active Struts

Kurzfassung

The recently developed Zeppelin NT which is the first ”modern” semi-rigid airship, contains a lightweight truss structure, where the transverse trusses are made of innovative carbonfiber struts with extremely high specific stiffness and strength. The superior mechanical properties of such struts can only be utilized with appropriate load transfer elements. A design of a special form-locking load transfer element for high tensile and compressive loads as well as two different strut connections are described. The most advanced option is an active strut which contains an embedded piezo actuator by means of which the active variation of the strut length becomes possible, even for high frequencies. Once integrated into a truss structure, vibrations can thus be very effectively suppressed. Experimental results obtained with a demonstrator are discussed. Flight comfort in the new generation airships could well be improved by such kind of active truss structures.