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Abstract

Finite element (FE) solutions to wrinkling of membranes are presented. The FE program constructed for this purpose is based on the tension field concept of wrinkling. Several specific problems are analysed. The FE results are validated by experiments. The predicted extents of wrinkled regions are found to be in good agreement with the experimental observations. As an example of wrinkle control of membrane structures in space, the paper presents an FE solution to the problem of finding peripheral tension forces to render taut a circular membrane with a slack eccentric patch. The required trial-and-error solution procedure, in conjunction with the constructed FE program, introduces a rectangular flexibility matrix not used previously.

Keywords

membranes wrinkling tension field finite element analysis wrinkling experiments wrinkle control

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Tension field finite element analyses and experiments related to the wrinkling of membranes

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References