Aerodynamic influences on a tethered high-altitude lighter-than-air platform system to its behavior

The goal of this study was to investigate the influence of aerodynamic factors on the static behavior of a tethered high-altitude lighter-than-air platform. The system design comprised a lighter-than-air vehicle and a tether cable, and the conceptual platform configuration of such a system is studied herein. Governing equations were derived to model the static behavior of the system, and the effects of aerodynamic lift and buoyancy were parametrically analyzed based on the advection distance of the platform under storm conditions. The aerodynamic lift and buoyancy of the hull were shown to have nonlinear effects. We further analyzed the influence of the aerodynamic drag created by the tether. Since this was shown to have a significant influence, we concluded that the cable should ideally have a cross-sectional shape resembling the airfoil of a heavier-than-air aircraft. However, it is sufficient to ensure that the drag coefficient is of the order of 10−1.