M2S2 modular deployable composite shelters: concept and loading criteria

Abstract

Deployable shelters of various forms have been utilised since ancient civilisation. The need for these systems has not diminished over time, and development continues for military forces, civilian humanitarian aid, and post-natural disaster scenarios. Recent developments have focussed variously on tent type structures, air beam technology and steel frames supporting soft fabric, yet none have fully satisfied the deployability requirements. The Milliary Modular Shelter System (M2S2) initiative is a research project that aims to develop a fibre composite re-deployable arched shelter system with rigid or fabric cladding. The main frames are formed from standard modular panels that are connected and stressed in position by prestressing cables. Different geometries can be obtained using this system by changing the number of panels per frame and the packer sizes between panels. This paper is divided into two parts. The first presents the performance criteria for deployable shelters, reviews the different deployable shelter systems developed to date and presents the concept of M2S2 including the initial panel investigations. The second part discusses the loading criteria for deployable shelters. Due to the lightness of this type of structures, wind loads are the most critical loading type that drives the design. A generic approach of assessing wind pressure on deployable shelters is presented and applied for two international loading codes.