Study on Material Strength of Underwater Deployable Structures

Abstract

Underwater deployable structures are known as Ocean Morphing Structures, which can be compacted and transported by underwater robots then morph into the final form upon arrival. The underwater deployable structures are made of waterproof fabrics to provide a lightweight, compact solution for the underwater application. This paper focuses on the fabric materials strength used for the ocean morphing structures’ fabrication. The material of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) film and the glued seams are tested in dry and wet conditions. This work provides the experimental study of the physical strength for the effect of fabrication direction, fabric thickness and application environment.