Shape Recovery of Viscoelastic Deployable Structures

Viscoelastic Effects in Tape-Springs

Following recent interest in constructing large self-deployable structures made of reinforced polymer materials, this paper presents a detailed study of viscoelastic effects in folding, stowage, and deployment of tape-springs which often act as deployment actuators in space structures. Folding and stowage behavior at different temperatures and rates are studied. It is found that the peak load i...

Micromechanics Models for Viscoelastic Plain-Weave Composite Tape Springs

The viscoelastic behavior of polymer composites decreases the deployment force and the postdeployment shape accuracy of composite deployable space structures. This paper presents a viscoelastic model for single-ply cylindrical shells (tape springs) that are deployed after being held folded for a given period of time. The model is derived from a representative unit cell of the compositematerial,...

Viscoelastic Modeling of the Recovery Behavior of Cut Pile Carpet After Static Loading: A Comparison Between Linearand Nonlinear Models

Deployable Soft Composite Structures

Deployable structure composed of smart materials based actuators can reconcile its inherently conflicting requirements of low mass, good shape adaptability, and high load-bearing capability. This work describes the fabrication of deployable structures using smart soft composite actuators combining a soft matrix with variable stiffness properties and hinge-like movement through a rigid skeleton....

Performance Evaluation of Viscoelastic and Friction Passive Damping System in Steel Structures

Additional dampers are employed in order to decrease the dynamic response of structure against the earthquake and wind loading recently. In this study, two types of systems related to waste of inactive energy, i.e. frictional damper which is categorized in dampers dependent on movement and viscoelastic damper which is categorized in dampers dependent on velocity, in making steel structures resi...