Mater ial
The skirt material will be exposed to all occurring environmental
conditions for a period of 10 years. The material
must be resistant for exposure to sea water, UV light
and mechanical abrasion. This combined with the flexibility
of the skirt results in a limited amount of suitable
materials. The material consists of multiple layers of high
strength texture and non-permeable coating.
Proven technology materials that should be further investigated
for use as skirt:
Trevira polyester
The material is constructed from high tensile Trevira polyester
base cloth (pattern weaved), with heavy duty UVstabilized
PVC or polyurethane coating. This material is
selected for use in buoyancy elements and ballast bags
used in crane testing. The actual desired skirt structure
is not for sale currently, but the company Seaflex can provide
this material for the skirt.
Orca ® fabr ic
This fabric is often used for inflatable tubes in motorboats.
Figure 3.76 shows the distinct layers that make the
fabric. The base fabric is made from high tenacity polyester.
Neoprene is highly suitable to give the skirt its nonpermeability,
and synthetic rubber could give the skirt its
durability for UV and abrasion.
No data on fatigue behavior of the materials is available.
In the subsequent design phase, manufacturers will be
contacted to provide information on fatigue properties.