Dynamic Testing and Analysis of Inflatable Beams

Abstract

Dynamic testing of an inflatable beam has been performed to evaluate structural natural frequencies and modal damping ratios. The inflatable beam has a pattern of six composite fiber strips inside thin-film structure that increases its local stiffness that the structure can be self-supporting in the gravity environment when the internal pressure is released. A measurement setup was installed, and the dynamic testing was performed in this self-supporting state. Dynamic characters of the beams were tested with internal pressure or not when the beam had a 2.0kg mass on the top. Moreover, the dynamic characters before rolled up were contrasted to one after. The experimental results indicate that the self-supporting inflatable beams had better bending stiffness, and the curl folding process had an impact on the dynamic characteristics of the inflatable beam. The pressure affection is not obvious on dynamics of the beam.