Bending and optimisation of an inflated braided beam

Two braided inflatable beams have been made that differ in the number of axial fibres that are placed parallel to the length, and in the angle at which the bias fibres are placed. Each beam consists of a silicone rubber bladder, two end caps and a dry carbon fibre braid placed over the silicone bladder. Experimental and theoretical analysis of the beams have been revealed that due to bending, the beams initially deflect in a linear manner like the Euler-Bernoulli beam model predicts. Once the stress in the axial fibres becomes zero, wrinkling occurs resulting in a significant loss of bending stiffness. The two beams that were tested were optimised for minimum deflection at a constant volume of fibres. The stiffest design has the maximum possible amount of fibres in parallel to the beam.