FOLDING DEFLECTION INVESTIGATION OF INFLATED TUBE

An theoretical analysis and experimental verifications are made to investigate the folding deflection behavior of inflated tubes.According to the ideal geometrical configuration,the relationships among tube's cross-section at the folding place,deflection angle,folding deflection moment and deflection angle,are established.The moment-angle relationship is different from that derived from inflated cantilever beam.A testing system was set up and an inflatable Kapton film tube was made to verify the analysis results.Through setting an invariable folding deflection moment,the inner pressures of the inflated tube at different folding deflection angles were measured.Another measuring result is the folding deflection angle of the tube when the folding place is closed.Testing results are in good agreement with those in the analysis.