Large Displacement Solutions

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Large Displacement Solutions

This solar reflector uses a vacuum to pull the front and back surfaces together to focus the reflective surface. The deflected
surface shape can be calculated using FEA, but the correct shape can only be computed with large deflection theory.

A stretched membrane heliostat

A surface model of a stretched membrane heliostat reflector

(not the same reflector as in the photo)

For this sample, a 0.064" thick 16ft diameter stainless steel reflector is focused with a 0.1 psi vacuum. This reflector is
studied first with linear theory:

A 0.1 psi vacuum is applied to create the focus by stretching

the membrane

Initial linear theory results - the displacement is wrong (3235

inches!) - the two surfaces are shown passing through each
other

What went wrong? The linear theory assumes that the stiffness of the reflector does not change as its shape changes. As a
result the only stress computed is a flat panel bending stress. In reality, the application of the vacuum changes the shape
from flat to spherical. After a very small deflection, the membrane stress in the deflected spherical shape is much higher
than any bending stress.

http://www.pveng.com/FEA/FEAGeneral/LargeDisplace/LargeDisplace.php

09/06/2011

Large Displacement Solutions

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Linear theory - no membrane stresses are reported for the

mirror.

Linear theory - huge bending stresses are reported.

SolidWorks Simulation suggests using large displacement theory to solve the problem:

Large displacement theory is suggested for this study

From the SolidWorks Simulation help files:

The linear theory assumes small displacements... This approach may lead to inaccurate results or convergence difficulties
in cases where these assumptions are not valid... The large displacement solution is needed when the acquired deformation
alters the stiffness (ability of the structure to resist loads) significantly... The large displacement solution assumes that the
stiffness changes during loading so it applies the load in steps and updates the stiffness for each solution step.

This perfectly describes this reflector. The application of a very small vacuum changes the shape from a flat plate to a
curved shape. The correct analysis is membrane not bending.
SolidWorks Simulation applies the pressure in steps. The stiffness of the membrane is recalculated after each step. The
large displacement solution takes a lot longer to run.

Large displacement theory deflection magnified 3x

Large displacement membrane stress plot

http://www.pveng.com/FEA/FEAGeneral/LargeDisplace/LargeDisplace.php

09/06/2011

Large Displacement Solutions

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Membrane stresses - the stresses are approximately those of a sphere (where the stress would be uniform across the whole
surface).

Minimal stress is shown in the large displacement theory

bending stress results. Bending stresses are almost zero
except at the fixed edges.

A plot of the actual deflection vs the deflection for a true sphere shows that the shape is not truly spherical, which matches
the membrane stress plot which shows a non uniform stress distribution. The linear theory plot is different in shape and
magnitude.
The SolidWorks Simulation help file has useful information on using large displacement solutions.
(c)2011 Pressure Vessel Engineering Ltd.

http://www.pveng.com/FEA/FEAGeneral/LargeDisplace/LargeDisplace.php

09/06/2011