A semi-analytical approach for the nonlinear two-dimensional analysis of fluid-filled thin-walled pliable membrane tubes

Pliable tubes are tubular membranes of low rigidity and may collapse or substantially deform easily. The governing equations of these tubes are nonlinear because the tube shape depends on the internal pressure and the deformation of the tube can be very large. In the present study, a semi-analytical approach for the nonlinear analysis of the fluid-filled thin-walled pliable tubes with different load distributions and boundary conditions is developed. Both geometric and equilibrium relations of the tube element are used to obtain the tube profile in explicit closed form. Several applications of the pliable tubes are considered and the equilibrium shape and wave propagation velocity in these tubes are also obtained. The validity of the present semi-analytical approach is confirmed by comparing the results with those obtained from the literature. It is shown that the present formulation is an appropriate method and a new approach to predict the nonlinear behavior of the pliable tubes with a good accuracy.