RibbonDesign

Optimal Ribbon Design

An optimal ribbon design has minimize mass and maximize axial strength - this is paramount for the space elevator. The ribbon must also have a high resistance to damage.

The baseline ribbon design incorporates aspects to deal with meteors, atomic oxygen, radiation, wind, etc. and does so with a high strength to weight ratio. This design to first order deals with the major issues however the details of the design must be examined and optimized and several major questions must be answered.

What is the optimal fiber size and number? What is the optimal interconnect design, size, spacing, construction,...? Can spun CNT fiber be coated completely with a metal and will it survive the climbers? How will the ribbon react when it is damaged with a micrometeor? What dynamic stresses and oscillations will be created in the ribbon by wind?

All of these need to be answered quantitatively.

Specific Work

1. Definition paper on the driving requirements of the ribbon
2. 3D models of the possible ribbon designs using ODE showing how it deforms under normal operating conditions
3. Models must include friction at interconnects, forces in three directions, realistic response to these forces
4. Include in generation 2 models how the ribbon deforms when it is damaged in different ways: microholes, 5% hole, edge damage, ... this will likely relate back to results found in the stored energy in the ribbon discussion.

Completed and Ongoing Efforts

File:Ribbon tests.odt : Early ribbon work by Edwards

File:Cable write up.odt : Early ribbon Work by Edwards

TBD Hoytether by Robert Hoyt