Shape Finding and Stress Analyses of Tension Membrane Structures by using 4-node Isoparametric Elements

4월점 등매개요소를 이용한 인장막구조(引張膜構造)의 형상해석(形狀解析) 및 응력해석(應力解析)

This study purports to analyze equally stressed surfaces in tension-membrane structures through a geometrically nonlinear approach. It adopts the formulation of a 4-node quadrilateral isoparametric plane stress element considering the orthotropic characteristic of membrane textures. Tension structures, which include cables and tension membranes, such as a cable dome initially exhibit unstable conditions because no initial internal stiffness such as bending stiffness is present. Such a structural system requires prestressing to the tension members to attain a stable state. A tension-membrane structure retains a stable three dimensional curved surface as a structural shape. This analytical process for finding the geometry is referred to as Shape Finding Analysis. In order to assess the validity of this study, we examine equally stressed surfaces of saddle and catenary shape shell structures and carry out pertinent stress analyses