Relocatable Fabric Structure from ASFI Provides Shelter from West Antarctic Extremes
Aircraft hangar will protect workers and equipment during global warming project
OCALA, FLA. (May 15, 2008) – American Spaceframe Fabricators International (ASFI) announced today it was awarded a contract to complete a custom fabric aircraft hangar for the US Antarctic Program (USAP).
The 24-foot-by-40-foot relocatable structure will be erected at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide camp during the duration of the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) project – a multi-disciplinary research project that strives to better understand the mass balance of the polar ice sheets and their contributions to sea level rise. Used to house an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to monitor ice recession, the custom fabric structure is expected to be complete in December 2008.
“We had specific design requirements for this project which the proposed ASFI design meets,” said Elaine Hood, communications specialist for the USAP’s main contractor. “It is critical for scientists in remote field camps to be able to maximize the number of productive days during the short austral summer.”
With temperatures as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months, keeping employees warm and equipment operable was a necessity. ASFI is able to use an exterior wall consisting of multiple layers of an insulated arctic fabric rated for temperatures of -67 degrees Fahrenheit to accommodate extreme temperature changes. Additionally, excessive snow and wind require the tension fabric structure to be engineered for 40 lbs. of snow load per square foot and 90 mph wind conditions.
For ease of operations, the hangar will include a 12-foot-wide by 8-foot-tall roll-up fabric door for moving vehicles in and out of the hangar. Brackets also will be located along the sides of the walls in the building for storing detachable UAV wings, and a monorail manual chain hoist will run the length for maintenance purposes.
“In the custom fabrication and design business, each project is a unique challenge requiring an innovative solution,” said Chris Longley, vice president of business development for ASFI. “The US Antarctic Program is no exception. This project is an example of how our engineers work with customers to find the best solution for even the most stringent design and material requirements.”
The CReSIS project is expected to operate for two years at the WAIS divide camp location. It is anticipated that the camp will be re-deployed to other Antarctic locations in coming years. Through the use of ski-equipped Hercules cargo airplanes, ASFI’s structure can be relocated to subsequent project sites around the continent.
For additional information about ASFI and similar temporary aircraft structures, please visit www.asfi.net
About ASFI
Based in Ocala, Fla., American Spaceframe Fabricators International, LLC is a design, build and engineering firm with more than 30 years experience in the tensioned fabric structures industry. ASFI’s award-winning structures are located around the globe and provide protection from a myriad of weather conditions from severe hurricane winds to sub zero temperatures. ASFI’s structures include aerospans, sports facilities, canopies and entertainment facilities. For more information visit www.asfi.net
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