Deployment analysis of a self-deployable composite boom

This paper studies deployment analysis of a self-deployable composite boom. The boom is laminated from plain weave T300 carbon/polyetherimide, and has an integral folding hinge for deployment mechanism. The folding hinge consists of three tape springs, obtained by removing material from the boom after manufacturing. The quasi-static moment–rotation performance of the hinge during folding and unfolding is studied by nonlinear finite element analysis. The deployment behavior of the boom is obtained analytically with a simplified and compact model of deployment, and compared with measured experimental data, showing good agreement. Deployment experiments of the boom are carried out for the dynamic behavior before and after stowing it. Keeping the boom at an elevated temperature decreases the deployed frequency by 21.8%.