Design and Analysis of an Inflatable Tube with a Rigidizable Web

Abstract

There has been considerable interest in inflatable space structures in last decades due to their potential application for such advantages as lightweight and high folding efficiency. As a relatively simply element, the inflatable tube has been studied in some aspects, e.g. the rigidizable materials, the mechanical properties and deploying characteristics. To achieve ultra lightweight and lower the heating energy for the thermally cured rigidizable materials, an inflatable tube with a rigidizable web is designed; and then the critical load and overall stiffness of the rigidized tube are analyzed by using finite element method (FEM). It is found that the mechanical properties of the tube are not sensitive to the material anisotropy, but to the winding angle of rigidized cord and the ratio of length to diameter of the tube.