Tubeloop: New tube concept to accelerate hyperloop route construction

The current infrastructures of the "hyperloop" transport concept, consisting of train transport in vacuum tubes, are based on steel pipes. This makes them difficult to handle and transport due to their large diameter and weight. In addition, they involve high manufacturing and installation costs due to the need for special equipment for their assembly on site. Finally, it is important to consider that the use of metallic materials has a high carbon footprint due to the energy consumption required for extraction and processing. The technology consists of a portable tubular structure which, once on site, becomes a fixed structure consisting of three concentric layers. The inner and outer layers are made of polymeric profiles, which can be either FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) or FML (Fiber Metal Laminated). The core layer is made of a polymeric or cement-based foam that provides thermal and acoustic insulation properties to the pipe. The ability to combine layers of different materials offers the possibility of having the most suitable solution for each situation. The inner and outer layers comprise fibres of any grammage and warp. On the other hand, the middle layer consists of a bag capable of being inflated by air or filling material which helps to shape the fixed tubular structure in its final location. The manufacturing of the tubes is simple and fully automatic: in the factory, the inner and outer layers are created in two flat skins. Then, a chemical reaction joins these skins to the inner core, resulting in a structure that can be folded. Finally, valves, balloons and partially sealed vacuum bags are inserted and the tube is rolled up ready for transport. The types of materials used for the sheets ensure the structural integrity of the tube, giving it the performance needed to replace existing technology. For example, the orientation of the fibres in the sheets allows for mechanical properties such as compressive strength, tear strength and tensile strength in different directions, among others. The format of a structure that is inflatable and can therefore be folded for transport not only reduces the volumes to be transported but also the overall weight. This allows for better transport performance and efficiency. It is these same qualities that make it easier to set up on site.