Static experimental research and finite element analysis of Tensairity

Based on the mechanical behavior of the Tensairity, a spindle Tensairity structure model of 2.5 m span was designed and manufactured. Under two concentrated forces loading on the mid-span of the model, the deflection and the laws of internal force distribution of the model were investigated, and the influence of the internal air pressure on the static performance of the structure was studied. Through the analysis of the limit states for the structure, the fracture morphology and the failure mechanism were studied. Second, the refined spindle Tensairity finite element model was established by ANSYS. From initial state to inflated state and loaded state of the structure, the whole course numerical simulation was carried out, and the responses of the structure were compared with the results of the experiment. The results show that the results from numerical simulation and the experiment agree well. The displacements and the internal forces obtained from the two methods coincide basically. The test model reaches the limit state at the time of the concentrated force is added to 1.98 kN, and the corresponding failure mode is the local buckling damage of the upper chord member and the folding of the membrane at the end of the airbag.