Configuration Design and Verification of Shear Compliant Border in Space Membrane Structure

To solve the non-uniformity of stress in space membrane structure and the lack of shear compliant border configuration design method, shear compliant borders are designed, optimized, and verified in terms of configuration. Firstly, an orthotropic model of the borders is built by combining Hill and Christensen-Lo composite material models. Secondly, a finite element form-finding method is put forward by establishing rectangular and cylindrical coordinates in different areas. The configuration of borders is obtained and the influence of the borders on the edge of the membrane is 0.23%, which means that the borders are compatible with the existing tensegrity systems, especially the tensioning components and the cable sleeves. Thirdly, simulation verifies that borders can cut the spread of shear stress and improve the stress uniformity in membrane structure. The maximum stress in the membrane effective area is decreased by 35.6% and the stress uniformity is improved by 30.5%. Finally, a membrane extension experiment is committed to compare the flatness of membrane surface under shear stress with and without shear compliant borders. The borders decrease the increment speed of flatness by 58.1%, which verifies the amelioration of stress uniformity. The shear compliant border configuration design method provides a reference for space membrane structure stress-uniform design.