Abstract:

This article analyzes the buckling and post-buckling behaviors of the rectangle membrane and inflatable tube. First, based on the stress equilibrium relation of the rectangle membrane’s wrinkling region and taking into consideration the action of tiny initial tension, the expression of the rectangle shear membrane’s wavelength and amplitude are obtained. Based on the theory of stability, a numerical analysis method of the membrane wrinkle is established, and the results are certified by experiments. The analysis indicates that the buckling problem of a rectangle membrane is in essence a balance problem of branching points. For the analysis of the torsion of inflatable tubes, an expression of critical torque based on tension field theory is established. A comparison with the numerical analysis results demonstrates that the process of the buckling of an inflatable tube is a balance problem of extreme points. Via comparison, the analysis results of the two structures match well with the results of numeral analysis. The method established in this article can be used effectively to perform- buckling and post-buckling analysis of membrane structures.

Key words: space , inflatable , structure,  , membrane,  , wrinkle,  , tension , field , theory,  , buckling