Conceptual Design and Dynamic Analysis of Bistable Deployable Structure

Abstract

Recently, space structures are getting larger and more complex because of the more demanding requirements in the space mission. Constructing large structures in space has several challenging issues such as assembly, maintenance and delivering cost. Deployable structures can be the appropriate solution to construct large space structures. Employing bistable characteristics can provide additional advantages to the deployable structure for solving these issues because the overall system can be made relatively simple as well as reliable. In this study, a new concept of the deployable structure using bistable characteristics is proposed. Due to the bistability, both folded and deployed states of the proposed deployable structure can stay under the stable state. The mathematical model of the single bistable component is established to analyze the effect of the off-axis ratio on the characteristics of the proposed structure. In order to analyze the deployment behavior of the proposed structure, the dynamic model of the single bistable component is established. The driving force from the SMA spring is measured from an experiment. By applying the force profiles to the dynamic model, the simulation of the proposed structure is conducted. In order to validate the dynamic model, the experimental model is constructed and the deployment process is captured. The comparison of the simulated and experimental results shows good agreement.