Abstract
ABSTRACTThe deployable structures based on shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) have been developed for its unique properties, such as high reliability, low-cost, lightweight, and self-deployment without complex mechanical devices compared with traditional deployable structures. In order to increase the inflatable structure system’s robustness and light the weight of it, a cubic deployable support structure based on SMPC is designed and analyzed preliminarily. The cubic deployable support structure based on SMPC consists of four dependent spatial cages, each spatial cage is composed of 12 three-longeron SMPC truss booms and end connections. The shape recovery of arc-shaped deployable laminates drive the three-longeron SMPC truss booms to unfold, thus realize the expansion of the deployable support structure. The concept and operation of the cubic deployable support structure are described in detail. A series of experiments are performed on the three-longeron deployable laminates unit and the simplified cubic deployable support structure to investigate the shape recovery behavior in the deployment process. Results indicate that the cubic deployable support structure has a high deployment-tgo-stowage volume ratio and can achieve self-deployment, package, and deploy without complex mechanical devices.
Highlights
Since the discovery of the shape memory polymers (SMPs) in the 1980s, international research interest into the shape memory effect in polymers has been rapidly growing [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
The fiber-reinforced shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) have been developed in practical applications to satisfy demand, the results of studies on SMPCs indicate that SMPCs have higher strength, higher stiffness, and certain special characteristics determined by what fillers are added, which can offer further advantages over SMPs [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19]
The cubic deployable support structure based on SMPC consists of four dependent spatial cages; each spatial cage is composed of 12 three-longeron SMPC truss booms
Summary
Since the discovery of the shape memory polymers (SMPs) in the 1980s, international research interest into the shape memory effect in polymers has been rapidly growing [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. In the early of the twenty-first century, the space inflatable structure is one of the emerging enabling technologies for space applications because inflatable structures are lightweight and have a small packing volume [28,29,30,31]. It can potentially revolutionize the designs and applications of large space structural systems. In order to light the weight and reduce the mechanical complexity of the inflatable structure system, we have designed and analyzed a cubic deployable support structure based on SMPC preliminarily. The cubic deployable support structure performs high packaging efficiency for launch, self-deployment without complex mechanical devices and can improve the robustness of the inflatable structure system
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
