The Design Method And Build Up Process Analysis Of Pneumatic Structures

Membrane structure, which takes excellently performed membrane as its materials, is a newly developed structural form. In this kind of structure, membrane is tensioned to resist loads and cover large span spaces through inflating air or taking advantages of cables as well as other rigid supports. Reviewing the past 70 years, the membrane structure, with the development of the pre-tension technics and light weight materials, has incarnated the combination of the architectural art and technical science.Membrane structural form is usually adopted in sports stadiums, exhibition halls, public resting places and other builds. It is well researched and developed in Japan, America, Canada and some European countries. Compared with the above advanced techniques, our researches in cable and membrane structures, which has been launched since 1990s, are still short of systematic design theory and project experiences. Especially to pneumatic membrane structure, the relative technical accumulation is almost zero.The research object of this paper is Pneumatic Membrane Structure. The design method of the pneumatic membrane structure and some of the key techniques are summarized through theory deduction, experiment comparison, as well as broadly referring to relative literatures. Besides, certain computation programs are written to simulate the structures' build up process. This paper can be used as references for pneumatic membrane structures' construction or provides examples for corresponding design criterion's drawing.The paper firstly illustrates the definition, classification, characteristics and research actuality of the pneumatic membrane structure. Then, introduces the non-linear finite element method and presents the form finding analysis and stress analysis method. In succession, the paper brings forward setting of internal air pressure, measurement of air leakage and choosing method for air inflating systems. After that, by referring to the build up theories through generalized inverse matrix method, the paper properly imitates the build up construction process by adopting two different elements segmentation methods respectively. Besides, the paper introduced the functional principle and design method for a spring supported cushion structure, which was newly invented and aimed to overcome the shortage of air inflated cushion's complicated daily inspection. And finally, this paper expatiated the design and construction course of an experimental alluminium exhibition hall, whose roofs adopt both ETFE membrane air cushion and spring supported cushion in order to prosecute comparisons.