Application of elastic memory composite materials to deployable space structures

Abstract

Elastic Memory Composite (EMC) materials exhibit many favorable qualities for deployable space structures and have piqued a broad interest within America's deployable space structures industry. EMC materials are similar to traditional fiber-reinforced composites except for the use of a thermoset shape memory resin that enables EMC materials to achieve much higher failure strains than traditional composites when exercised through a very specific thermomechanical load cycle. This unique behavior is exploited in the development of EMC structural components that exhibit very high packaging-strain capability while guaranteeing predictable postdeployment structural performance. This paper presents a review of the current state of development of EMC technologies and EMC deployable space structure components. The paper is intended primarily to help potential users of EMC materials develop a better understanding of the special capabilities of EMC materials and considerations that must be applied while engineering with EMC materials.