Thermoelasticity of a Fabric Membrane Composite for the Stratospheric Airship Envelope Based on Multiscale Models

As a main structure of the stratosphere airship, the typical envelope material is flexible fabric membrane composite. The high-low alternated temperature of the stratosphere has a great influence on the mechanical property of the envelope material. Thermoelasticity of the envelope material is first investigated based on a micromechanical model. The modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion of the material are simulated respectively and compared with the measured results. It can be concluded that the material owns the similar nonlinearity character both in warp and weft directions and the modulus in both directions increase to a steady-state value gradually from a relatively small value. The coefficients of thermal expansion of the material in two directions in the plane are quite small compared with the out-plane direction because of the constraint effect between yarns and matrix. The thermal distribution and the deformation of the envelope material in different temperatures are carried out at last. It is expected that the results are significative for the engineering design.