Pumping potential of a hyperbolic shell-of-revolution flexible-matrix-composite structure

An idea for generating a pumping action with high pumping potential is proposed and evaluated. The pumping potential is defined as the amount of relative volume reduction engendered by an applied load (relative input stroke). The idea is based on the hypothesis that upon twisting a single-ply flexible-matrix-composite (FMC) hyperbolic shell-of-revolution structure, with rigid fibers and negligible matrix stiffness, a considerable volume reduction ensues. A mathematical model governing the large deformation of a hyperbolic shell-of-revolution FMC structure using the energy approach is presented. The response of a specific structure due to an angular twist is computed using a B-spline based technique. In addition, a crude single-ply carbon/polyurethane hyperbolic shell-of-revolution structure is built and tested. The analytical results are compared with a corresponding ANSYS simulation and the experimental ones. The results demonstrate that the proposed idea is viable. The results also suggest that the B-spline based approach is an attractive method for solving large deformation structural boundary value problems.