In recent years, accidents involving air-supported membrane coal storage structures have frequently occurred under extreme wind and snow conditions. In practical engineering, such coal storage structures are required to withstand combined loads, posing higher demands on form-finding and load analysis. Form-finding analysis was conducted and its reliability was verified using user-defined programs in the APDL module of ANSYS. The fluid-structure interaction between the membrane surface and the airflow, as well as the fluctuation of wind loads on air-supported membrane coal storage structures, were considered. CFD(computational fluid dynamics) analysis was performed on an engineering example to calculate surface wind pressure and wind-induced vibration coefficients. Nine load combinations were designed based on the Code for Design of Building Structures and resulted in 75 loading conditions. These conditions were used to verify the maximum membrane stress and membrane displacement. The results indicate that the structure meets the requirements of the code. Coupling effects occur under combined loads, resulting in nonlinear responses. The failure mode is likely to be insufficient strength rather than excessive displacement. During the design of air-supported membrane structures, the shape and size of the air membrane, as well as the wind direction angle, must be considered in design verification.
DONG Ming-wang, FU Guo-tao, GU Yong, GUO Xiao-hai, QIAO Lei, DING Yue-de, QU Hong.
Form Finding and Loading Analysis of Air Supported Membrane Structure Coal Shed Based on Multi-load Combination[J].
Science Technology and Engineering, 2026, 26(3): 1183-1195 DOI:10.12404/j.issn.1671-1815.2500234
ZhangShen, WangYifan, ChengMing, et al. Wind pressure simulation and validation of stadium membrane building based on computational fluid dynamics[J]. Science Technology and Engineering, 2022, 22(14): 5768-5777.
[3]
SchekH J. The force density method for form finding and computation of general networks[J]. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 1974, 3(1): 115-134.
[4]
KoohestaniK. Nonlinear force density method for the form-finding of minimal surface membrane structures[J]. Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, 2014, 19(6): 2071-2087.
[5]
PaulettiR M O, FernandesF L. An outline of the natural force density method and its extension to quadrilateral elements[J]. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 2020, 185: 423-438.
[6]
TangY, LiT. Equivalent-force density method as a shape-finding tool for cable-membrane structures[J]. Engineering Structures, 2017, 151: 11-19.
[7]
AlicV, PerssonK. Form finding with dynamic relaxation and isogeometric membrane elements[J]. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 2016, 300: 734-747.
ZhouShulu, YeJihong. Modified force-density method for form-finding of membrane structures[J] Chinese Journal of Applied Mechanics, 2008(3): 421-424, 540.
HeYanli, ChenWujun, ZhaoJunzhao. Research on forming theory and test of inflatable membrane structures[J]. Engineering Mechanics, 2013, 30(4): 269-274.
ChenZheng, ZhaoHaitao, ChenJi’an. Form finding of inflatable cable-membrane structure[J]. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology, 2020, 52(12): 84-90.
[16]
ZhaoB, HuJ, ChenW, et al. Computational method for in-situ finite element modeling of inflatable membrane structures based on geometrical shape measurement using photogrammetry[J]. Computers & Structures, 2019, 224: 106105.
ChengXinxing, ZhangChao, NiuGuoping, et al. Research on morphological analysis method of long-span inflatable membrane structures[J]. Journal of Xi’an University of Architecture & Technology(Natural Science Edition), 2021, 53(3): 344-349, 378.
ZhaoBing, ChenWujun, HuJianhui, et al. Finite element modeling of inflatable membrane structure based on photogrammetry[J]. Engineering Mechanics, 2017, 34(3): 141-148.
RanWuji, JiangGuoyi, WangFeng. Study on wind load and wind environment of the air-supported membrane structures using LK k-ε model[J]. Building Structure, 2018, 48(S2): 1012-1017.
WangHao, LiYuqing, JiangHuimin, et al. Experimental study on wind load characteristics of large span gas filmcoal shed under the influence of wind incidence angle and surrounding buildings[J]. Journal of Shijiazhuang Tiedao University(Natural Science Edition), 2022, 35(2): 20-25.
ChenZhaoqing, SongPengfei, YanKeye, et al. Wind-induced aero-elastic response and vibration coefficients of capsule inflatable membrane structure[J]. Journal of Vibration Engineering, 2024, 37(1): 31-39.
[27]
CheonD J, KimY C, LeeJ H, et al. Experimental investigation of wind pressure characteristics for cladding of dome roofs[J]. Materials, 2021, 14(18): 5266.
[28]
ChenZ, SuY, WangJ, et al. Experimental study on aeroelastic instability of spherical inflatable membrane structures with a large rise-span ratio[J]. Buildings, 2022, 12(9): 1336.
ZhangAnqi, YangXinfeng, LiuPing. Analysis on mechanical properties of inflatable membrane architecture considering fluid-structure interaction[J]. Science Technology and Engineering, 2023, 23(20): 8753-8762.
[31]
SunF, ZhuD, LiuT, et al. Study on fluid-structure interaction of flexible membrane structures in wind-induced vibration[J]. Shock and Vibration, 2021(5): 1-10.
[32]
QingQ, GuoX, GongJ, et al. Structural behavior of joined hemispherical-cylindrical air-supported membrane structure under vertical loading deflation[J]. Advances in Structural Engineering, 2020, 23(3): 549-564.
[33]
SamyA, YuanX, ZhangY, et al. Study on bagging effect and rupture failure of membrane structures[J]. Engineering Structures, 2021, 232: 111880.
[34]
张慧霞. 风雨共同作用下气承式膜结构响应分析[D]. 石家庄: 河北科技大学, 2019.
[35]
ZhangHuixia. Response analysis of air-supported membrane structures under combined action of wind and rain[D]. Shijiazhuang: Hebei University of Science and Technology, 2019.
LiFanghui, WeiDong, ShenShizhao. Response analysis of air-supported membrane structures under combined action of wind and rain[J]. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology, 2003(7): 869-872.
China Association for Engineering Construction Standardization.Technical specification for membrane structures: CECS 158—2015[S]. Beijing: China Planning Press, 2015.
ZhangLe. The mechanics response of air-supported structures under snow load and their failure mechanism[D]. Xi’an: Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, 2016.
LiYu, PengXiaoyong, XiongHan. Radiation convection air conditioning with air film cooling fixed wall[J]. Science Technology and Engineering, 2020, 20(4): 1613-1618.
ShenYuekui, ZhaoDeshun, WangQin. Study on wind pressure distribution of inflatable membrane structures considering fluid-structure interaction[J]. Chinese Journal of Computational Mechanics, 2017, 34(5): 665-671.
Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China.Load code for the design of building structures: GB/T 50009—2012[S]. Beijing: China Construction Industry Press, 2012.