Fabrication Methods for Pressurized Fabric Arches

Seamless curved high pressure beams could be produced by knitting, braiding and weaving. It was determined already that weaving is offering the best potential for resisting snow load due to the higher density and direction of the fiber alignment. Two basic types of curved tubular weaving were considered, a single shuttle flat loom and a multishuttle circular loom. After considerations, the circular loom was selected as the preffered method. The circular loom is of a very high production, and can be designed to accomodate an inner tube integrally during the weaving. The circular loom by definition working out if a creel warp, which makes it easy to weave a curved tube. A circular loom can also control the weft yarn rotation on its own axis precisely to prevent undesirable twisting of the weft if a tape shape yarn is woven.