DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF MEMBRANE
STRUCTURES IN FEM-BASED SOFTWARE
MASTER THESIS
ARCHINEER® INSTITUTES FOR MEMBRANE AND SHELL
TECHNOLOGIES, BUILDING AND REAL ESTATE e.V.
ANHALT UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
AUTHOR Ing. ROSTISLAV LANG SEPTEMBER 2017
FIRST TUTOR Prof. Dr.-Ing. ROBERT OFF DESSAU-ROSSLAU
SECOND TUTOR Prof. Dr.-Ing. KAI-UWE BLETZINGER GERMANY
INTRODUCTION
FORM-FINDING
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
GENERATION OF CUTTING PATTERNS
Note: the presented work follows the software
development focused on membrane structures
performed by cooperating companies Dlubal
Software s.r.o. and FEM Consulting s.r.o. The
presented examples were created in the RFEM
software.
FORM-FINDING
Shape Analysis of Structures
The shape is given by the equilibrium of forces
and boundary conditions
Arbitrarily deformed meshes for the same surface
geometry ([6] with modification)
Different Methods
Force Density Method
Dynamic Relaxation Stable and unstable equilibrium position
Updated Reference Strategy
Natural Force Density Method
Etc.
General Finite Element Approach Iterations of the form-finding process ([20] with
modifications)
Direct solution of the shape is not possible
Nonlinear calculation is necessary for reaching
the shape with given prestress
Any load can be a part of the form-finding
Pneumatic prestressed and stabilized structures (+
overpressure, - low pressure) [21]
FORM-FINDING
Hypar Structure
The isotropic prestress
The independence on the Initial shape of the hypar membrane structure
initial shape
FE mesh
Global deformations u
Vectors of the principal internal forces n1 and n2
FORM-FINDING
Initial shape of the hypar membrane structure Initial shape of the hypar membrane structure
FE mesh FE mesh
Global deformations u Global deformations u
Vectors of the principal internal forces n1 and n2 Vectors of the principal internal forces n1 and n2
FORM-FINDING
Hypar Structure
The isotropic prestress
The independence on the
initial shape
Initial shape FE mesh (right)
The constant orthotropic
prestress is not possible
Global deformations u Normal force N in the cables and beams
Principal internal forces n1 Principal internal forces n2 Vectors of the principal internal forces n1 and n2
FORM-FINDING
Hypar Structure
The isotropic prestress
The independence on the
initial shape ETFE cushion (left), FE mesh of the layers (middle) and the air chamber (right)
The constant orthotropic
prestress is not possible
ETFE Cushion
Prestress, overpressure and
boundary conditions
Basic internal forces nx Basic internal forces ny
Basic internal forces nxy Total pressure p = pa + p0 (pa...atmospheric
pressure, p0...overpressure)
FORM-FINDING
Hypar Structure
The isotropic prestress
Geometry of the greenhouse structure
The independence on the
initial shape
The constant orthotropic
prestress is not possible
FE model of the greenhouse structure (1221 1D elements, 16508 2D elements, 20172 3D elements)
ETFE Cushion
Prestress, overpressure and
boundary conditions
Pneumatic Structure Total pressure p = pa + p0 (pa...atmospheric pressure, p0...overpressure)
Combination of 1D/2D/3D
elements
Basic internal forces nx in the ETFE layers
FORM-FINDING
Shell Structure
Compression, self weight Initial shape of a shell FE mesh
and boundary conditions
Stable and unstable equilibrium position
Two views of global deformations u in the form-finding Normal forces N
Basic internal forces nx Basic internal forces ny
FORM-FINDING
Shell Structure
Compression, self weight
and boundary conditions
Initial shape of the membrane structures, the FE mesh in the initial position, the structure with
structure with (above) and without (bellow) the (above) and without (bellow) the analysis of the
analysis of the shape of steel arches shape of steel arches
Combined Structure
Tension in membranes
and cables, compression
in beams
Structure with and without
shape analysis of the beams
Global deformations u during the form-finding Vectors of the principal internal forces n1 and n2
Normal forces N Shear forces Vy Bending moments Mz
FORM-FINDING
Shell Structure
Compression, self weight
and boundary conditions Different initial shapes of the membrane structures
Combined Structure
Tension in membranes
and cables, compression
in beams
Structure with and without FE mesh of the membrane structures in the initial position
shape analysis of the beams
Interesting Phenomenon
Possible existence of
different right solutions for
shape analysis of combined
structures
Global deformations u in the form-finding
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Nonlinear Behavior
Geometric nonlinearity
Material nonlinearity
Geomatrical Nonlinearity
Reference (X,W 0) and the current (x,W )
The changes of the shape configuration of the body
Elastic, non-linear elastic, elastic-plastic
and general material models
have significant impact
on the structural response
Material Nonlinearity
Avoiding pressures
Different material models Stress state: stresses in the planar axis
direction, main stresses in the main directions
([19] with modifications)
Methods of solving
Diagram of the Newton-Raphson iterative
Implicit method a) and its three modifications b),c),d)
Explicit
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Hypar Structure
Eight load cases
Linear orthotropic material
Hypar membrane FE mesh
Definition of load cases
Load cases LC2 (Wind A-) Load cases LC4 (Wind B-)
Load combinations (ULS and SLS)
Cp zones definition on the hypar structure [35] Load case LC6 (Snow full) Load cases LC7 (Snow 1/2)
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Hypar Structure
Eight load cases
Linear orthotropic material
Hypar membrane FE mesh
Global deformations u (CO18) Normal force N in cables and beams (CO18) Vectors of main internal forces n1 and n2 (CO18)
Basic internal forces nx in the membrane (CO18) Basic internal forces ny in the membrane (CO18) Basic internal forces nxy in the membrane (CO18)
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Hypar Structure
Eight load cases
Linear orthotropic material
First axes orientation (Model 1) Second axes orientation (Model 2)
Impact of the warp/weft
orientation
Global deformations u of Model 1 (CO18) Global deformations u of Model 2 (CO18)
Main internal forces n1 of Model 1 (CO18) Main internal forces n1 of Model 2 (CO18)
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Pneumatic Structure
Eight load cases
Geometry of the greenhouse structure
Linear isotropic material
Air management
The FE model of the greenhouse structure (1221 1D elements, 16508 2D elements,
20172 3D elements)
Fig. 114 – Air management of pneumatic stabilized and prestressed Load combination CO2 = 1.35LC1 + 1.50LC5
cushions (on the left) and air behaviour of enclosed cushions (on the right):
a) 2-layer system, b) 3-layer system, flat middle layer (mechanically
prestressed) and c) 3-layer system, curved middle layer (pneumatically
prestressed) [21]
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Pneumatic Structure
Eight load cases
Geometry of the greenhouse structure
Linear isotropic material
Air management
Main internal forces n1 in ETFE layers (CO2)
Total pressure (atmospheric pressure + change of pressure) Main internal forces n2 in ETFE layers (CO2)
Main internal forces n2 in wooden shells (CO2) Vectors of the main internal forces n1 and n2 in ETFE layers (CO2)
GENERATION OF CUTTING PATTERNS
Basic Steps
Splitting the surface by cutting lines
Flattening the spatial patterns into the The basis of the simple triangulation method (from the left: the spatial shape,
plane the FE mesh of the spatial model used for form-finding and structural analysis
purposes, the modified mesh for flattening purposes, the flattened pattern) [19]
Flattening Methods
Simple Triangulation Method
Mathematical Squashing by Least
Square Approach
The flattening process ([20] with modifications)
Physical Squashing by Least Square
Approach
Physical Squashing with Energy
Minimization
GENERATION OF CUTTING PATTERNS
Construction Requirements
Same lengths of the lines for welding
Specific compensation for boundary lines
Compensation The flattening process ([20] with modifications)
According can be a part of the flattenging
process
The influence of material on flattening
Different materials can be taken into
account for the FEM flattening Ensuring the same lengths of the boundary lines of the
adjacent patterns ([20] with modifications)
Biaxial test: load history [35] Biaxial test: measured strains [35]
GENERATION OF CUTTING PATTERNS
Hypar Structure
Different cutting lines
Using different cutting lines to split the membrane; arbitrary lines (left), geodesic lines (right top) and
planar sections (right bellow)
Resulting patterns using the arbitrary lines (top),
geodesic lines (middle) and planar sections (bellow)
GENERATION OF CUTTING PATTERNS
Hypar Structure
Different cutting lines
ETFE cushions with the x/y (warp/weft) orientation displaying, FE mesh
ETFE Cushion
Three cases of the same cushion
Patterns evaluation
Specified material
Spatial patterns (3D) with the information that the mathematical
squashing was performed
Flattened (2D) patterns with the information that the
distortion energy minimization was performed
GENERATION OF CUTTING PATTERNS
ETFE cushions with the x/y (warp/weft) orientation displaying, FE mesh
Strains ex in 2D patterns caused by flattening (displayed on spatial
(3D) patterns for having compact model of all patterns)
Spatial patterns (3D) with the information that the mathematical
squashing was performed
Strains ey in 2D patterns caused by flattening
Flattened (2D) patterns with the information that the
Strains exy in 2D patterns caused by flattening distortion energy minimization was performed
GENERATION OF CUTTING PATTERNS
Strains ex in 2D patterns caused by flattening (displayed on spatial Strains e1 in 2D patterns caused by flattening
(3D) patterns for having compact model of all patterns)
Strains ey in 2D patterns caused by flattening Strains e2 in 2D patterns caused by flattening
Strains exy in 2D patterns caused by flattening Vectors of strains e1 and e2 in 2D patterns caused by flattening
GENERATION OF CUTTING PATTERNS
Hypar Structure
Different cutting lines
ETFE Cushion
Three cases of the same cushion Membrane structure
Patterns evaluation
Specified material
Membrane structure
Ensulign of construction requirements
FE mesh of the membrane structure
Spatial patterns with the information that the mathematical squashing Spatial patterns with the information that the distortion energy minimization
was performed was performed
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
ARCHINEER® INSTITUTES FOR MEMBRANE AND SHELL
TECHNOLOGIES, BUILDING AND REAL ESTATE e.V.
ANHALT UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
DLUBAL SOFTWARE s.r.o.
FEM CONSULTING s.r.o.
BRNO UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
