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Design and analysis of an inflatable tube with a rigidizable web

  • Zhimin Xie*
  • , Shouwu Pu
  • , Yanyan Weng
  • , Zihou Zhang
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • Harbin Institute of Technology
  • Iowa State University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

There has been considerable interest in inflatable space structures in last decades due to their potential application for such advantages as lightweight and high folding efficiency. As a relatively simply element, the inflatable tube has been studied in some aspects, e.g. the rigidizable materials, the mechanical properties and deploying characteristics. To achieve ultra lightweight and lower the heating energy for the thermally cured rigidizable materials, an inflatable tube with a rigidizable web is designed; and then the critical load and overall stiffness of the rigidized tube are analyzed by using finite element method (FEM). It is found that the mechanical properties of the tube are not sensitive to the material anisotropy, but to the winding angle of rigidized cord and the ratio of length to diameter of the tube.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIISME2012
Pages549-552
Number of pages4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Event2012 2nd International Conference on Industry, Information System and Material Engineering, IISME 2012 - Wuhan, China
Duration: 17 Mar 201218 Mar 2012

Publication series

NameAdvanced Materials Research
Volume459
ISSN (Print)1022-6680

Conference

Conference2012 2nd International Conference on Industry, Information System and Material Engineering, IISME 2012
Country/TerritoryChina
CityWuhan
Period17/03/1218/03/12

Keywords

  • Critical load
  • Inflatable tube
  • Lightweight
  • Rigidizable

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