Deformation Characteristics of Flexible Sheets Across Discontinuous Air-Floating Supports

Air-floating transport provides a noncontact solution for handling large flexible sheets in precision manufacturing. However, variations in the spatial distribution of air-film support during transport can induce localized deformation, particularly when the sheet crosses gaps between adjacent support regions. This study investigates the deformation characteristics of thin flexible sheets during air-floating transport using a coupled model of the sheet and supporting air film. The evolution of sheet deformation is analyzed at representative transport positions. A relative displacement measure is introduced to quantify local edge sagging. The effects of guide gap, air supply conditions represented by the equivalent parameter Q, initial installation gap, and negative pressure are systematically examined. The results show that deformation is particularly pronounced near the sheet edges during transitions between support regions. Among the investigated parameters, guide gap has the strongest influence on edge sagging, while the effects of the equivalent supply parameter Q and negative pressure are relatively limited within the examined ranges. These findings provide guidance for configuring air-floating transport systems to reduce undesirable sheet deformation.