Approximate method for cutting pattern optimization of frame-supported and pneumatic membrane structures

TL;DR

This paper introduces an efficient approximate optimization method for cutting patterns in frame-supported and pneumatic membrane structures, reducing computational effort while maintaining accuracy.

Contribution

It presents a novel approximate approach for optimizing cutting patterns and analyzing membrane structures, including pneumatic and ETFE films, with demonstrated efficiency.

Findings

Effective in optimizing cutting patterns with minimized shape error

Successfully applied to PVC membrane and ETFE film structures

Reduces computational complexity compared to traditional methods

Abstract

A computationally efficient method is presented for approximate optimization of cutting pattern of frame-supported and pneumatic membrane structures. The plane cutting sheet is generated by minimizing the error from the shape obtained by reducing the stress from the desired curved shape. The equilibrium shape is obtained solving a minimization problem of total strain energy. The external work done by the pressure is also incorporated for analysis of pneumatic membrane. An approximate method is also proposed for analysis of an Ethylene TetraFluoroEthylene (ETFE) film, where elasto-plastic behavior is modeled as a nonlinear elastic material under monotonic loading condition. Efficiency of the proposed method is demonstrated through examples of a frame-supported PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC) membrane structure and an air pressured square ETFE film.