Deflation and collapse of air-supported membrane structures

Abstract

Air-supported membrane structures are widely used in stadiums, malls, and museums. The stiffness and shape of such structures are dependent on the pressure difference between the indoor and outdoor environments. As the leakage of indoor air may lead to the collapse of the structure, it is necessary to study the deflation deformation process, including the properties that can cause air-supported membrane structures to collapse. In this study, a rectangular air-supported membrane structure is fabricated using a PVC-coated polyester fabric membrane with dimensions of 38 m × 20 m × 7 m, and a leakage experiment is performed. The relationship between the initial leakage area and the pressure difference is obtained, and a new algorithm to determine the equivalent initial leakage rate is proposed. A collapse test is then conducted, with results illustrating that there are two distinct phases of collapse. There is a quick drop in the pressure difference in the first phase, whereas the pressure difference declines rather slowly in the second phase. Computational formulae for collapse and escape times are established, and finally, a quasi-equilibrium status-based algorithm to determine the collapse time of air-supported structures is proposed. Using the new algorithm, several main parameters that influence the collapse of air-supported structures are studied, including the cables, initial pressure, and leakage area. Results show that the initial pressure has a minimal effect on the collapse of structures, while excessive cables accelerate the process of collapse.