Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis Of Tensioned Membrane Structure

The membrane structure has been a kind of new developed form of building structure in nearest 20-30 years, which is adored by most of the people in the word for its special, elegant sculpt and the power of tensile force. The membrane's roof is composed of flexile material of membrane with high strength. The roof and the system of crutch and tensioned structure combine to be a space structure with some rigidity, which can bear the external loads.However, as a new form of structure, the membrane structure is so different from the traditional one in the conception and method of design. Because the membrane with high physical and geometric nonlinear property can not resist bending moment or sustain compressive stress, the design of it is completely different from traditional structures. The design of membrane structure includes form-finding, load analysis and cutting pattern analysis. Compared with cutting pattern analysis, form-finding and load analysis are very important. In addition, tensioned membrane structure is better than other membrane structures in design and utilization, so this paper mainly makes an analysis about the tensioned membrane structure's form-finding and load analysis.In this paper, the basic theory of geometric nonlinear finite element method is introduced firstly. The basic equations of cable-membrane element are derived, which provide the theoretic basis to apply the nonlinear finite element method to the analysis of form-finding and static load analysis of tensioned membrane structure. Secondly, a new method of form-finding is put forward through the research of two kinds of ideas of form-finding. And the form-finding of membrane structure is carried out with the general-purpose finite element package ANSYS, thus a key problem in the design of membrane structure is solved, which is grounded by the accurate calculation and analysis of the static load analysis. Finally, the mechanical performance of tensioned membrane structure on static load is systematically researched through a serial of calculating examples. It sums up some applicable results and conclusions.