Design and Analysis of Oscillation-Decreasing Mechanism on the Deployable Composite Boom

Abstract

Self-deployable booms are designed to fold elastically and to spontaneously deploy using structurally stored energy. Dealing with redundant vibration and oscillation produced after complete deployment is the main problem about using these structures. Also, the booms stiffness decreases after deployment so as it may returns due to a moment that applied on it. Therefore, it is necessary to design a mechanism by which the boom joint’s redundant oscillations are decreased and the boom’s stiffness, as well as stability, is increased. In this study, a composite deployable boom is first simulated via multibody dynamic analysis software, and then a mechanism is designed for decreasing the boom’s redundant oscillations and vibrations, as well as increasing the boom’s stability and stiffness. The results show that, by use of the designed mechanism for decreasing oscillation of the joints of the boom, the extra vibration of the deployed boom has been damped in much less time. Also, using this mechanism balances and decreases the applied influence and vibration on the satellite due to the boom’s deployment, and consequently facilitates the quick stability of the satellite.