Can Vacuum Airships Overcome Structural Challenges for Feasible Flight?

[Joes12]

TL;DR Summary

Are vacuum airships possible without unobtanium materials?

I was thinking about the vacuum airship concept that was conceived a long time ago. For example:



I think the main problem is the required structural strength of the container, and also being light weight.

I have not run any numbers, what do you think the potential issues with the following concept could be?

At ground level you start off with an airship with a lightwight rigid structure but it is filled with hydrogen or helium, so that the structure does not have to take all the load as if there was a vacuum.

As the ship rises, you slowly vent the helium/hydrogen in a controlled way so that there is still boyancy but this is balanced so that the structural forces do not beome too great. I suppose you might also just be able to compress it for more control and reusability, but that might require a compressor that is too heavy - haven't done any analysis or calculations on that.

The fixed rigid structure means that the internal density is decreasing as you vent the gas. As the ship rises, you can approach a vacuum type condition without exposing the structure to excessive forces. After the gas has been released (as much as possible) the ship would remain in place. You could then intermittently turn on the compressors to maintain the condition.

 

[anorlunda]

If you look at the bottom of this page, you will see a list of other PF threads on this same question. It has been discussed multiple times here on PF. Read those threads first, then if you still have questions, post again here.

 

[Joes12]

They seem to be the same area of discussion, but I don't think the same question from what I have seen.

 

[russ_watters]

...the general.consensus from those past threads is that it is both impossible and a terrible idea.

 

[jrmichler]

Summary: Are vacuum airships possible without unobtanium materials?

I think the main problem is the required structural strength of the container, and also being light weight.

And one of those threads has exactly that calculation. I just checked, and it is still there.

Seek, and you shall find.