Computationally Efficient Finite-Element Modeling of Braided Inflatable Structural Members with Axial Reinforcing
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 143, Issue 6
Abstract
Braided, inflatable structural members with axial reinforcing cords have the ability to accommodate loading with a low mass and small storage volume. These members are particularly attractive for space-based applications. There is currently a need to develop computationally efficient structural design methodologies for these unique, compliant, inflatable structural members so that engineers can more-effectively perform structural analyses and conduct structural-optimization studies. In this paper, an analysis methodology is developed for the three-dimensional, large-displacement, materially nonlinear behavior of these inflatable, slender members that includes the effect of the internal inflation pressure. A three-dimensional, corotational, flexibility-based fiber-beam element is employed to handle geometric and material nonlinearities. Comparisons are made with the in-plane and out-of-plane response of component-level testing of inflatable straight tubes, as well as to higher-fidelity shell-based finite-element models. The model results show good agreement with both shell-based finite element (FE) models (with a significantly decreased number of degrees of freedom), and results of component-level tests well past the point where test specimens lose internal prestress due to bending and exhibit a nonlinear response.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported in part by a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship. The authors acknowledge additional funding from the Maine Space Grant Consortium through the NASA Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.
References
Apedo, K. L., Ronel, S., Jacquelin, E., Bennani, A., and Massenzio, M. (2010). “Nonlinear finite element analysis of inflatable beams made from orthotropic woven fabric.” Int. J. Solids Struct., 47(16), 2017–2033.
Brayley, K., Davids, W. G., and Clapp, J. D. (2012). “Bending response of externally reinforced, inflated, braided fabric arches and beams.” Constr. Build. Mater., 30, 50–58.
Brown, G., Haggard, R., and Norton, B. (2001). “Inflatable structures for deployable wings.” Proc., 16th AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conf., AIAA, Reston, VA, 19–26.
Cassell, A. M., et al. (2013). “Design and execution of the hypersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator large-article wind tunnel experiment.” Proc., AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conf., AIAA, Reston, VA.
Cavallaro, P. V., Johnson, M. E., and Sadegh, A. M. (2003). “Mechanics of plain-woven fabrics for inflated structures.” Compos. Struct., 61(4), 375–393.
Clapp, J. D., Davids, W. G., Goupee, A. J., and Young, A. C. (2016a). “Experimental determination of inflatable, braided tube constitutive properties.” Strain, 52(2), 148–161.
Clapp, J. D., Young, A. C., Davids, W. G., and Goupee, A. J. (2015). “Structural response of hypersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator braided tube components and elements.” Proc., AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conf., AIAA, Reston, VA.
Clapp, J. D., Young, A. C., Davids, W. G., and Goupee, A. J. (2016b). “Bending response of reinforced, inflated, tubular braided fabric structural members.” Thin-Walled Struct., 107, 415–426.
Clarke, M. J., and Hancock, G. J. (1990). “A study of incremental-iterative strategies for non-linear analyses.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng., 29(7), 1365–1391.
Crisfield, M. A. (1990). “A consistent co-rotational formulation for non-linear, three-dimensional, beam-elements.” Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng., 81(2), 131–150.
Davids, W. G. (2009). “In-plane load-deflection behavior and buckling of pressurized fabric arches.” J. Struct. Eng., 1320–1329.
Davids, W. G., and Zhang, H. (2008). “Beam finite element for nonlinear analysis of pressurized fabric beam-columns.” Eng. Struct., 30(7), 1969–1980.
De Souza, R. M. (2000). “Force-based finite element for large displacement inelastic analysis of frames.” Ph.D. dissertation, Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA.
Elsabbagh, A. (2015). “Nonlinear finite element model for the analysis of axisymmetric inflatable beams.” Thin-Walled Struct., 96, 307–313.
Evans, J. T., and Gibson, A. G. (2002). “Composite angle ply laminates and netting analysis.” Proc., Royal Soc. London A, 458(2028), 3079–3088.
Fichter, W. B. (1966). A theory for inflated thin-wall cylindrical beams, NASA, Washington, DC.
Hughes, S. J., et al. (2005). “Inflatable re-entry vehicle experiment (IRVE) design overview.” Proc., AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conf., AIAA, Reston, VA.
Hughes, S. J., Cheatwood, F. M., Dillman, R. A., Wright, H. S., Del-Corso, J. A., and Calomino, A. M. (2011). “Hypersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator (HIAD) technology development overview.” Proc., AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conf., AIAA, Reston, VA.
Kabche, J. P., Peterson, M. L., and Davids, W. G. (2011). “Effect of inflation pressure on the constitutive response of coated woven fabrics used in airbeams.” Compos. Part B, 42(3), 526–537.
Le van, A., and Wielgosz, C. (2005). “Bending and buckling of inflatable beams: Some new theoretical results.” Thin-Walled Struct., 43(8), 1166–1187.
Le van, A., and Wielgosz, C. (2007). “Finite element formulation for inflatable beams.” Thin-walled struct., 45(2), 221–236.
Li, L., Gonyea, K. C., and Braun, R. D. (2015). “Finite element analysis of the inflatable re-entry vehicle experiment.” Proc., AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conf., AIAA, Reston, VA.
Lindell, M. C., Hughes, S. J., Dixon, M., and Willey, C. E. (2006). “Structural analysis and testing of the inflatable re-entry vehicle experiment (IRVE).” Proc., AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conf., AIAA, Reston, VA.
Lyle, K. H. (2014). “Preliminary structural sensitivity study of hypersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator using probabilistic methods.”, NASA, Washington, DC.
Lyle, K. H. (2015). “Comparison of analysis with test for static loading of two hypersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator concepts.” NASA, Washington, DC.
Marini, A., and Spacone, E. (2006). “Analysis of reinforced concrete elements including shear effects.” ACI Struct. J., 103(5), 645–655.
Neuenhofer, A., and Filippou, F. C. (1997). “Evaluation of nonlinear frame finite-element models.” J. Struct. Eng., 958–966.
Neuenhofer, A., and Filippou, F. C. (1998). “Geometrically nonlinear flexibility-based frame finite element.” J. Struct. Eng., 704–711.
Nguyen, Q. T., Thomas, J. C., and Le van, A. (2015). “Inflation and bending of an orthotropic inflatable beam.” Thin-Walled Struct., 88, 129–144.
Spacone, E., Filippou, F., and Taucer, F. (1996a). “Fibre beam-column model for non-linear analysis of R/C frames. Part I: Formulation.” Earthquake Eng. Struct. Dyn.,25(7), 711–725.
Spacone, E., Filippou, F., and Taucer, F. (1996b). “Fibre beam-column model for non-linear analysis of R/C frames. Part II: Applications.” Earthquake Eng. Struct. Dyn., 25(7), 727–742.
Veldman, S. L., Bergsma, O. K., Beukers, A., and Drechsler, K. (2005). “Bending and optimisation of an inflated braided beam.” Thin-Walled Struct., 43(9), 1338–1354.
Veldman, S. L., and Vermeeren, C. A. J. R. (2001). “Inflatable structures in aerospace engineering—An overview.” Proc., European Conf. on Spacecraft Structures, Materials and Mechanical Testing, ESA, Paris, 93–98.
Verge, A. S. (2006). “Rapidly deployable structures in collective protection systems.” Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command, Natick, MA.
Wang, C., Tan, H., and Du, X. (2009). “Pseudo-beam method for compressive buckling characteristics analysis of space inflatable load-carrying structures.” Acta Mech. Sinica, 25(5), 659–668.
Wright, H., et al. (2012). “HEART flight test overview.” Proc., 9th Int. Planetary Probe Workshop, NASA, Washington, DC.
Zu, L. (2012). “Design and optimization of filament wound composite pressure vessels.” Ph.D. dissertation, TU Delft, Delft, Netherlands.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 143 • Issue 6 • June 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 28, 2016
Accepted: Oct 19, 2016
Published ahead of print: Feb 10, 2017
Published online: Feb 11, 2017
Published in print: Jun 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Jul 11, 2017
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.