Notes on Tetroon Design

VOLUME DETERMINATION: Calculating the volume of an inflated tetroon is not a trivial task because of the comple

conducted by Raven Industries in 1977 the volume of an inflated tetroon can be taken as .26h3 where 'h' is the height of a
cylinder. The research also indicated that this formula underestimates the finished volume by 3-6%. Part of this underestim
differences in the sample balloons used in the research program.
differences means that the inflated volume of a tetroon will be up to 30% greater than for a flat sided regular tetrahedron o
increase up to 2% with high superpressures but these are not typically found in hot air tetroons so may be safely ignored.

rivial task because of the complex shape. According to research

.26h3 where 'h' is the height of a cylinder used to construct the
e by 3-6%. Part of this underestimate is attributable to manfacturing
The sum of these
a flat sided regular tetrahedron of the same height. The volume will
roons so may be safely ignored.

Required Volume (m3)

Length of Side (Top) (mm)
Maximum Fabric Width (mm)
Seam Allowance (mm)

900
17226
1600
18

Length of Side (Mouth) (mm)

3000

Number of Vertical Panels

Finished width of panel top
Finished width of panel bottom
Height of gore (top to mouth)

11
1566.045
272.7273
12320.51

Centre Gore

L
R
0 -783.0225 783.0225
12320.51 -136.3636 136.3636

Ist gore from centre

646.6589 2212.704
0 272.7273

2nd Gore from centre

1939.977 3506.022
0 272.7273

3rd Gore from Centre

3233.295 4799.34
0 272.7273

4th Gore from Centre

4526.612 6092.657
0 272.7273

5th Gore from Centre

5819.93 7385.975
0 272.7273

17226.5

Tetroon Vertical Panel Designer v1.1

Volume Required(m3)
Maximum Fabric Width (mm)
Seam Allowance (mm)

Note:
Enter values
in the blue
box.

900
1600
18

Reqd. Length of Side

Number of Panels at top of Side
Width of Finished Panel (mm)
Height of Finished Panel (mm)

17226
11
1566
2712

Theoretical length of side/top

junction to mouth apex
Number of Panels High

14919
4

Finished gore length mouth top

top seam

10850

The diagrams below are for illustration purposes only. The number of
gores and panels are as per the numbers and not the number of lines
shown in the graphics.
Side Elevation
11 panels / 17226mm wide.

4 panels / 10850 mm high.

Finished (Cut) Panel Sizes

mm

inches

Width
Height

1584
2730

62.4
107.5

Top Elevation

Vent Sizing
Note:
The
table below shows the size of a vent that would be fitted to a
similar shaped conventional balloon. Sizes are based on 12%
gore length of a Smalley Factors shaped balloon.

Envelope Class / Volume (m3)

AX1 / 250
AX2 / 400
AX3 / 900
AX4 / 1200
AX5 / 1600
AX6 / 2200
AX7 / 3000

9946

Vent Surface Vent Length

Area (m2) of Side (mm)

7
9.7
16.6
20.3
24.5
30.2
37.4

3742
4405
5762
6372
7000
7772
8649

5.5 Panels / 8613 mm

1.8 panels / 4973mm

5762

high.