Analysis of the Wrinkle Behavior of Creased Membranes Considering Concentrated Residual Stress

Abstract Recently, membrane materials have been applied to spatially deployable antenna structures. Studying the formation and suppression of wrinkles and creases is important for achieving the high-precision requirements for membrane antennas. In this study, the effect of the initial crease angle on the wrinkling behavior of the membrane structure is investigated considering the inherent crease at the fold line and random creases during assembly. A numerical model of the planar crease is proposed that introduces the concentrated residual stresses of the deployed crease. Multiple sets of single-fold rectangular planar membrane finite element models are established with different crease angles, and nonlinear postbuckling simulations are then performed. The effects of the crease angle and tensile strain on wrinkle evolution and the postbuckling profile are investigated. The load-deflection curves show that the crease has a suppressive effect on the wrinkling behavior, which is more prominent when the crease angle is acute. This is confirmed by the effect of the crease angle on the wrinkle amplitude and distribution area, and the suppression effect is stronger in the small strain range. A favorable range of crease angles and tensile strains in which the surface accuracy of the membrane antenna can be effectively guaranteed are suggested.