Space Forum / Space Flight / September 2003

Has much research/design work been done on really large airlock doors?
A quick search finds references ranging from real doors around a
meter in size to fictitious vehicle-sized doors (details not
included).  I'm speculating that a reasonable design might look
something like:

A large (5m x 5m), square, rigid metal frame; a kevlar-reinforced,
impermeable membrane that unrolls over the face of the frame with the
raised edge of the membrane constrained in tracks; bars/clamps in the
tracks that, once the membrane is in position, are engaged to seal the
edges.  Assuming 7 psi in the lock, there would be 123 tons of force
against the membrane.  If used at a lunar base, for example, a serious
problem would be dust in the tracks, wearing out parts and destroying
the seal.