Static Aeroelastic Behavior of an Inflated, Inextensible Membrane in Two-Dimensional Hypersonic Flow

The aim of this work is to propose a simplified model capable of accurately predicting the interaction between a flexible inflatable structure and a hypersonic flow, even under conditions characterized by large deformations. The paper investigates a simple configuration consisting of an inflatable membrane constrained at two points to a flat plate immersed in a hypersonic stream, with a constant inflation pressure maintained between the membrane and the plate surface. By employing the inextensible membrane hypothesis, assuming a steady two-dimensional flow, and modeling the external aerodynamic effects using Newtonian impact theory, the governing equations of the system are reduced to an ordinary differential equation. This allows for a direct calculation of the membrane’s deformed shape within the hypersonic flow. The analysis of the results reveals several general properties of these types of inflatable structures as the inflatable pressure varies.