Modified nonlinear force density method for form-finding of membrane SAR antenna

Form-finding for cable-membrane structures is a delicate operation. During the last decades, the force density method (FDM) was considered to be an efficient method to address the problem. Many researchers were devoted to improving this method and proposed many methods such as natural force density method (NFDM), improved nonlinear force density method (INFDM), et al. In this paper, a modified nonlinear force density method (MNFDM) is proposed. In this method, the stresses of membrane elements were transformed to the force-densities of cable nets by an equivalent relationship, and then they can be used as initial conditions. By comparing with the forming finding results by using the FDM, NFDM, INFDM and MNFDM, it had demonstrated that the MNFDM presented in this paper is the most efficient and precise.