Fluid-structure interaction in inflatable membrane structures: A featured study of mechanical behavior

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) effects on the behavior of inflatable membrane structures under wind loads, aiming to enhance the understanding of the structural performance. We adopted a mixed-methods approach, incorporating a numerical simulation based on the RNG k-ε turbulence model. The work focused on a semi-cylindrical air-supported membrane structure examining the effects of varying wind directions, speeds, and internal pressures. Specifically, we investigated the displacement and stress on the inflatable membrane structure under wind velocities of 12, 15, and 18 m/s, taking into account the internal air pressure. Consequently, we determined the influence coefficients for displacement and stress, representing the ratio of FSI effects to those in a static case. Our findings indicate that the displacement coefficient is inversely related to internal pressure, whereas the stress coefficient directly correlates with wind speed. The maximum displacement and stress under FSI conditions can be calculated by applying an influence coefficient to the static case results. The findings from this study offer a convenient and reliable method for predicting the actual structural response. This paper provides valuable insights for the design and optimization of inflatable membrane structures to withstand wind loads, a topic that has been underexplored in previous studies. Future studies should investigate additional cases to further enhance the reliability of this method.