The efficacy of using Fiber-Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors for the purpose of sensing and characterizing dynamic deployment of bistable composite tape springs is investigated in this paper. Ultra-thin composite structures such as tape springs have seen increased popularity in spacecraft structures due to enabling the precise deployment of flexible solar arrays, sails, reflectors, and antennas. These composite members can elastically transition from either the coiled or folded state to the deployed extended state while possessing superior stiffness, thermal properties, mass efficiency, and compactness when compared to their metal counterparts. Bistability is leveraged to influence more controllable self-deployment and energy efficient stowage, while reducing or eliminating the need for mechanical restraints or motorized deployment. However, a need exists to monitor both the deployment dynamics and overall structural health of the deployed member. Fiber optic sensors such as FBGs have the capability to sense pressure, temperature, and mechanical strain. Due to their relative thinness, low mass, and flexibility, fiber optics may be integrated into these deployable composite structures without significantly interfering with bistability, packaging, or deployability. This paper experimentally demonstrates dynamic strain sensing of deploying bistable composite tape springs via the integration of fiber optics containing FBG sensors. Free deployment from both coiled and folded stowed configurations are characterized.
The efficacy of using piezoelectric actuators to initiate the dynamic deployment of bistable composite tape springs is evaluated in this paper. Ultra-thin composite booms such as tape springs and their cross-sectional variants have seen increased popularity in spacecraft structures due to enabling the precise deployment of flexible solar arrays, sails, reflectors, and antennas. They can elastically transition between the deployed “extended” position and the stowed “coiled” position while retaining superior stiffness, thermal properties, mass efficiency, and compactness when compared to thin-shelled metal booms and rigid articulated columns. Bistability in the coiled and extended states allows the boom to exhibit more controllable self-deployment and become reconfigurable, which could allow spacecraft to relocate, redeploy, and adapt to changing environmental conditions or mission objectives. Deployment systems commonly include motors and mechanical restraints that significantly contribute to mechanical complexity and spacecraft weight. Since bistable booms do not rely on elastic instability of packaging to initiate motion, a non-intrusive and lightweight actuation mechanism is needed to trigger deployment. This paper experimentally demonstrates how a Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) actuator can statically and dynamically excite a stowed composite tape spring to initiate unrolling into its extended state.
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