Methods of Measuring Stress Relaxation in Composite Tape Springs

Abstract

Composite tape springs present an opportunity to use stored energy for the deployment of space structures. Concern has risen over the dissipation of strain energy during storage due to viscoelasticity inherent in polymeric materials commonly used as the composite matrix. Tests to measure the internal behavior of a composite tape spring over time are conducted along with methods of analyzing and fitting the resulting data. The three constant strain configurations tested were compression force of the cross section, a restraining force of a longitudinal fold, and the change in shape of a folded section. While the shape changing test did not appear to be sensitive enough, the stress tests proved useful for measuring relaxation.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 26, 2015
Accession Number
ADA623246

Entities

People

  • Justin T. Heppe

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Composite Materials
  • Creep Tests
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Manufacturing
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Mechanics
  • Resins
  • Spacecraft
  • Test Methods
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster