Elastic Analysis of Circular Membrane and Its Application to an Inflatable Parabolic Reflector

Abstract

In this paper, first of all, we investigate the linear elastic deformation of circular plate, membrane deformation of circular membrane and their intermediate deformation. It is shown that the deformation in the intermediate pressure range is close to the paraboloid. We describe the possibility of the generation of the paraboloid from circular flat membrane by inflation. When the parameter used for an actual parabola reflector is taken into consideration, it is also shown that corresponding deflection is in the pressure range of the solution of a membrane.