Wrinkle localization in membrane structures patched with macro-fiber composite actuators: Inflatable space antenna applications

Kapton membranes have received much attention in the fabrication of space inflatable antenna technology in the recent years. While prized for their light designs, their delicate nature makes them susceptible to various kinds of disturbances in space environments that result in structural vibrations or wrinkle formation. In this regard, macro-fiber composite actuators have been commonly used for vibration control of these membrane structures. However, wrinkle control remains one of the major challenges in their designs. Some of the research in the previous literature has attempted to quantify the wrinkle behavior of these membranes when subject to boundary forces. Yet, in all the previous study, the effects of macro-fiber composite patches, a major compartment of these structures, on their wrinkle formation have been ignored. The presented article studies the effects of these patches on localization of wrinkles and their patterns in Kapton membranes. The numerical results are validated experimentally using photogrammetry techniques. Two membrane configurations are studied: one considers rectangular membranes with clamped-sliding boundary conditions and the other pertains to square membranes with symmetric corner loadings.