Structural design and modal behaviors analysis of a new swept baffled inflatable wing

Inflatable wing has significant application value in the design of loitering munitions because of its advantages such as lightweight and foldability.However,due to the flexible characteristics,aeroelastic behaviors of inflatable wings such as flutter are nonnegligible in flight.By designing a certain angle between the inflatable beam and the wing span,the structural dynamic and even the aeroelastic performance of the inflatable wing can be effectively improved.Based on the analysis of the mechanical and geometric characteristics of the inflatable structure,a new inflatable wing with sweep arranged inflatable beams is proposed,and the main design variables and methods are analyzed.For purpose of investigating the aeroelastic performance of the swept baffled inflatable wing,the modal behaviors by considering the wet mode are studied.In consideration of the deficiencies of the traditional wet modal analysis method,by introducing the influence on the additional stiffness of flow field,an added massstiffness method is proposed in this paper,and the advantages are verified by ground vibration experiments.On this basis,the effects of baffles sweep angle,pressure,and boundary conditions on the modal parameters and aeroelastic performance of inflatable wing are analyzed.The results show that the aeroelastic performance of the inflatable wing can be designed by changing the baffles sweep angle,which is enlightened for the aeroelastic tailoring design on inflatable wings.

Design and application of structural health monitoring system in long-span cable-membrane structure

Cable-membrane structures have small rigidity and are highly sensitive to wind. Structural health monitoring is necessary to ensure the serviceability and safety of the structure. In this research, the design method of a structural health monitoring system is using the characteristics of a cable-membrane structure. Taking the Yueyang Sanhe Airport Terminal as an example, a finite element model is established to determine the critical structural components. Next, the engineering requirements and the framework of the monitoring system are studied based on the results of numerical analysis. The specific implementation of the structural health monitoring is then carried out, which includes sensor selection, installation and wiring. The proposed framework is successfully applied to the monitoring system for the Yueyang Airport terminal building, and the synchronous acquisition of fiber Bragg grating and acceleration sensor signals is implemented in an innovative way. The successful implementation and operation of structural health monitoring will help to guarantee the safety of the cablemembrane structure during its service life.

Self-Repairing Membranes for Inflatable Structures Inspired by a Rapid Wound Sealing Process of Climbing Plants

A new self-repairing membrane for inflatable light weight structures such as rubber boats or Tensairity constructions is presented. Inspired by rapid self-sealing processes in plants, a thin soft cellular polyurethane foam coating is applied on the inside of a fabric substrate, which closes the fissure if the membrane is punctured with a spike. Experimental tests are carried out with a purpose built setup by measuring the air mass flow through a leak in a damaged membrane sample. It is shown that the weight per unit area of the self-repairing foam as well as the curing of the two component PU-foam under an overpressure influence the repair efficiency. Curing the foam under overpressure affects the relative density as well as the microstructure of the foam coatings. Maximal median repair efficiencies of 0.999 have been obtained with 0.16 g.cm 2 foam cured at 1 bar overpressure. These results suggest that the bio-inspired technique has the potential to extend the functional integrity of injured inflatable structures dramatically.

Pseudo-beam method for compressive buckling characteristics analysis of space inflatable load-carrying structures

This paper extends Le van＇s work to the case of nonlinear problem and the complicated configuration. The wrinkling stress distribution and the pressure effects are also included in our analysis. Pseudo-beam method is presented based on the inflatable beam theory to model the inflatable structures as a set of inflatable beam elements with a prestressed state. In this method, the discretized nonlinear equations are given based upon the virtual work principle with a 3-node Timoshenko＇s beam model. Finite element simulation is performed by using a 3-node BEAM189 element incorporating ANSYS nonlinear program. The pressure effect is equivalent included in our method by modifying beam element cross-section parameters related to pressure. A benchmark example, the bending case of an inflatable cantilever beam, is performed to verify the accuracy of our proposed method. The comparisons reveal that the numerical results obtained with our method are close to open published analytical and membrane finite element results. The method is then used to evaluate the whole buckling and the loadcarrying characteristics of an inflatable support frame subjected to a compression force. The wrinkling stress and region characteristics are also shown in the end. This method gives better convergence characteristics, and requires much less computation time. It is very effective to deal with the whole load-carrying ability analytical problems for large scale inflatable structures with complex configuration.

Deformation of wrinkled membrane inflatable structures under concentrated loads

The axisymmetric deformation of a paraboloidal membrane inflatable structure subjected to a concentrated load at its apex and a uniform internal pressure was analyzed. The wrinkle angle was obtained according to the membrane theory when wrinkles appeared and determined the wrinkle region. The wrinkled deformation was obtained based on the relaxed energy function. The effects of inflation pressure and concentrated loads on the wrinkle angle were analyzed and the deformation was obtained at the apex of structure. According to the numerical analysis, the shape of deformed meridians with wrinkles was obtained.

A simple analytical method for deflation prediction of inflatable structures

The static performance of inflatable structures has been well studied and the dynamic deployment simulation has received much attention. However, very few studies focus on its deflation behavior. Although there are several dynamic finite element algorithms that can be applied to the deflation simulation, their computation costs are expensive, especially for large scale structures. In this work, a simple method based on classic thermodynamics and the analytical relationship between air and membrane was proposed to efficiently analyze the air state variables under the condition of ventilation. Combined with failure analysis of static bearing capacity, a fast incremental analytical method was presented to predict both elastic and post wrinkling deflation process of inflatable structures. Comparisons between simplified analysis, dynamic finite element simulation, and a full-scale experimental test are presented and the suitability of this simple method for solving the air state and predicting the deflation behavior of inflatable structures is proved.

Aerodynamic unstable critical wind velocity for three-dimensionalopen cable-membrane structures

The aerodynamic unstable critical wind velocity for three-dimensional open cable-membrane structures is investigated. The geometric nonlinearity is introduced into the dynamic equilibrium equations of structures. The disturbances on the structural surface caused by the air flow are simulated by a vortex layer with infinite thickness in the structures. The unsteady Bernoulli equation and the circulation theorem are applied in order to express the aerodynamic pressure as the function of the vortex density. The vortex density is then obtained with the vortex lattice method considering the coupling boundary condition. From the analytical expressions of the unstable critical wind velocities, numerical results and some useful conclusions are obtained. It is found that the initial curvature of open cable-membrane structures has clear influence on the critical wind velocities of the structures.

Study of velocity effects on parachute inflation performance based on fluid-structure interaction method

The inflation of a five-ring cone parachute with the airflow velocity of 18 m/s is studied based on the simplified arbitrary Lagrange Euler （SALE）/fluid-structure interaction （FSI） method. The numerical results of the canopy shape, stability, opening load, and drag area are obtained, and they are well consistent with the experimental data gained from wind tunnel tests. The method is then used to simulate the opening process under different velocities. It is found that the first load shock affected by the velocity often occurs at the end of the initial inflation stage. For the first time, the phenomena that the inflation distance proportion coefficient increases and the dynamic load coefficient decreases, respectively, with the increase in the velocity are revealed. The above proposed method is competent to solve the large deformation problem without empirial coefficients, and can collect more space-time details of fluid-structure-motion information when it is compared with the traditional method.

Numerical simulations for gas-structure interaction in inflated deployment of folded membrane boom

It is very important for gas-structure interaction between compressible ideal gas and elastic structure of space folded membrane booms during the inflatable deployment. In order to study this gas-structure interaction problem, Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian （ALE） finite element method was employed. Gas-structure interaction equation was built based on equilibrium integration relationship, and solved by operator split method. In addition, numerical analysis of V-shape folded membrane booms inflated by gas was given, the variation of inner pressure as well as deployment velocities of inflatable boom at different stage were simulated. Moreover, these results are consistent with the experiment of the same boom~ which shows that both ALE method and operator split method are feasible and reliable methods to study gas-structure interaction problem.

Large-Scale Structure Formation via Quantum Fluctuations and Gravitational Instability

This is a review of the status of the universe as described by the standard cosmological model combined with the inflationary paradigm. Their key features and predictions, consistent with the WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropies Probe) and Planck Probe 2013 results, provide a significant mechanism to generate the primordial gravitational waves and the density perturbations which grow over time, and later become the large-scale structure of the universe—from the quantum fluctuations in the early era to the structure observed 13.7 billion later, our epoch. In the single field slow-roll paradigm, the primordial quantum fluctuations in the inflaton field itself translate into the curvature and density perturbations which grow over time via gravitational instability. High density regions continuously attract more matter from the surrounding space, the high density regions become more and more dense in time while depleting the low density regions. At late times the highest density regions peaks collapse into the large structure of the universe, whose gravitational instability effects are observed in the clustering features of galaxies in the sky. Thus, the origin of all structure in the universe probably comes from an early era where the universe was filled with a scalar field and nothing else.

矩形平面投影气膜结构风振响应特性及风振系数研究

近年来,矩形平面投影气膜结构被广泛应用于大跨度气膜煤仓等设施中,但是规范中尚无该类结构的风振系数。本文通过风洞测压试验,测量了典型矢跨比矩形平面投影气膜结构的风荷载;运用非线性动力时程分析法分析了结构的风振响应。研究了风速、风向、跨度、矢跨比和内压等参数对结构变形和响应极值的影响。结果表明:结构呈现迎风面及背风面凹陷、顶部和两侧向外凸的平均变形特征;极值响应的分布受结构参数和风向角的影响;响应的大小与跨度和矢跨比呈正相关;增大内压在一定程度上可以提高结构的抗风性,内压调控区间建议为400~500Pa;给出了可供抗风设计参考的位移风振系数及应力风振系数。

气肋式充气帐篷结构承载能力仿真分析

为分析不同充气内压对气肋式充气帐篷承载能力的影响,建立包含气肋拱、篷布、防风绳的大跨度拱形帐篷结构有限元模型,考虑气肋内气体和膜面的流-固耦合作用以及防风绳受力特性,在80 mm雪载荷和8级风载荷组合作用下求解帐篷结构的变形和应力结果,分析气肋式充气帐篷结构在风载荷和雪载荷组合作用下的承载性能,结果表明帐篷合适的充气内压为300 kPa。

气肋式充气膜结构风荷载作用下结构特性分析及模型试验

气肋式充气膜结构具有轻质、可移动、施工方便等优点,在临时会馆、机库等方面得到了广泛的应用。首先对气肋式充气膜结构的结构形式进行综述分析;随后以索笼绑带型气肋式充气膜结构为研究对象,建立共节点模型分析气肋直径、箍带数、内压对结构风荷载效应的影响,同时,通过在模型中删除索段的方法明确了各类索段的作用;最后进行了气肋加载试验,将试验结果和有限元计算结果进行了对比分析。

中国通货膨胀持久性特征与货币政策启示

基于1992Q1至2023Q2中国四类总体价格指标的环比折年率数据,借助于自回归系数和法和多倍未知结构断点检验方法,测度分析了中国通货膨胀持久性特征及其货币政策含义。研究发现:一是在样本区间内四类通货膨胀持久性相对较高,CPI和RPI存在两个显著的均值结构断点,分别在1996Q2和2003Q2,GDP_def存在一个显著的均值结构断点,在1996Q2,三者通货膨胀持久性近期均呈现上升趋势。PPI不存在明显均值结构断点;二是半衰期持久性测度结果显示,当前我国货币政策对CPI和RPI的调控应至少提前1个季度,对PPI的调控应至少提前2个季度,对GDP_def的调控应至少提前3个季度;三是我国CPI和RPI通货膨胀持久性在20世纪90年代呈现出一定程度的下降,这与国际研究实践一致。

空间布平板结构力学性能研究

空间布平板结构作为一新型充气结构因其高强度、轻量化以及出色的可设计性,在土木工程领域可应用于屋面板、围护结构和桥梁等,展现出广泛的应用前景。但是目前空间布平板结构的研究较少,缺乏一种简单高效的计算方法。对此建立了一种适用于空间布平板结构在弯曲下的力学模型,并利用包含内压的二维三节点铁木辛柯梁单元进行非线性有限元分析,使用MATLB编写相应的有限元程序对其荷载位移曲线和褶皱荷载进行预测。最终对空间布平板结构进行四点弯曲试验,验证理论的正确性。结果表明该力学模型可以预测空间布平板结构的全过程力学行为。

Friction characteristics of confined inflatable structures

The availability of high‐strength fabrics and progress in the development of large‐scale inflatable technology made possible the creation of temporary and quickly deployable structures for protection of underground infrastructure.Inflatable structures are relatively lightweight and portable,and can maintain the required rigidity while in operation.These benefits have prompted the development of inflatable structures for use in confined spaces,such as tunnels and large‐diameter pipes to act as barriers for containing flooding with minimal infrastructure modification.This work presents experimental results obtained from the evaluation of frictional characteristics of the fabric material that constitute the structural membrane of confined inflatable structures developed for protection of underground transportation tunnels and other large conduits.Friction tests at coupon level and slippage tests in a reduced‐scale inflatable structure were performed in order to evaluate the frictional characteristics of Vectran webbings.Tests at coupon level were performed to determine the friction coefficient for different surface types and conditions.Tests with the reduced‐scale inflatable structure contributed to the understanding of the friction characteristics at system level when subjected to different pressurization or depressurization sequences designed to induce slippage.Test results indicate that friction coefficient values at coupon level are about 29 percent higher than values derived from reduced‐scale tests.

Prediction on Deflection of Inflated Beam

The bending stiffness of the inflated beam is considered as a constant before wrinkles appear, and it decreases obviously as wrinkles propagate. The formula of the bending stiffness is obtained based on the membrane theory in this paper. Furthermore, the definition of dimensionless bending stiffness factor is presented; the relationship of bending stiffness factor and wrinkling factor is derived; the bending stiffness factor is simplified as different linear functions with wrinkling factor, and the simplified model of bending stiffness of inflated beam under bending is also obtained. The bending stiffness including expression of wrinkling factor is substituted into the deflection differential equation, and then the slope and deflection equation of the inflated beam is deduced by integrating the deflection differential equation. Finally, the load-deflection curve is obtained, which is compared with the experimental data in a previous paper. It has a good agreement with each other.

Deployment dynamics and topology optimization of a spinning inflatable structure

Inflatable space structures may undergo the vibration of a long duration because of their features of dynamic deployment,high flexibility,and low-frequency modes.In this paper,a topology optimization methodology is proposed to reduce the vibration of a spinning inflatable structure.As the first step,a variable-length shell element is developed in the framework of arbitrary Lagrange-Euler(ALE)and absolute nodal coordinate formulation(ANCF)to accurately model the deployment dynamics of the inflatable structure.With the help of two additional material coordinates,the shell element of ALE-ANCF has the ability to describe the large deformation,large overall motion,and variable length of an inflatable structure.The nonlinear elastic forces and additional inertial forces induced by the variable length are analytically derived.In the second step,a topology optimization procedure is presented for the dynamic response of an inflatable structure through the integration of the equivalent static loads(ESL)method and the density method.The ESL sets of the variable-length inflatable structure are defined to simplify the dynamic topology optimization into a static one,while the density-based topology optimization method is used to describe the topology of the inflatable structure made of two materials and solve the static optimization problem.In order to obtain more robust optimization results,sensitivity analysis,density filter,and projection techniques are also utilized.Afterwards,a benchmark example is presented to validate the ALE-ANCF modeling scheme.The deployment dynamics and corresponding topology optimization of a spinning inflatable structure are studied to show the effectiveness of the proposed topology optimization methodology.

Credit Risk Model Taking Account of Inflation and Its Contribution to Macroeconomic Discussion on Effect of Inflation on Output Growth

We use Extended Merton model(EMM)for estimating the firm’s credit risks in the presence of inflation.We show quantitatively that inflation is an influential factor making either a benign or adverse effect on the firm’s survival,supporting at the microeconomic level New Keynesian findings of the nonlinear inflation effect on output growth.Lower inflation increasing the firm’s expected rate of return can raise its mean year returns and decrease its default probability.Higher inflation,decreasing the expected rate return,makes the opposite effect.The magnitude of the adverse effect depends on the firm strength:for a steady firm,this effect is small,whereas for a weaker firm,it can be fatal.EMM is the only model taking account of inflation.It can be useful for banks or insurance companies estimating credit risks of commercial borrowers over the debt maturity,and for the firm’s management planning long-term business operations.

3D wind-induced response analysis of a cable-membrane structure

Wind loading is a dominant factor for design of a cable-membrane structure. Three orthogonal turbulent components, including the longitudinal, lateral and vertical wind velocities, should be taken into account for the wind loads. In this study, a stochastic 3D coupling wind field model is derived by the spectral representation theory. The coherence functions of the three orthogonal turbulent components are considered in this model. Then the model is applied to generate the three correlated wind turbulent components. After that, formulae are proposed to transform the velocities into wind loads, and to introduce the modified wind pressure force. Finally, a wind-induced time-history response analysis is conducted for a 3D cable-membrane structure. Analytical results indicate that responses induced by the proposed wind load model are 10%-25% larger than those by the con- ventional uncorrelated model, and that the responses are not quite influenced by the modified wind pressure force. Therefore, we concluded that, in the time-history response analysis, the coherences of the three orthogonal turbulent components are necessary for a 3D cable-membrane structure, but the modified wind pressure force can be ignored.