Tow-Steered Thin-Ply Deployable Thermoplastic Composite Booms for SmallSat Antenna Application
Abstract
The proposed research focuses on developing Tow-Steered Thin-Ply Thermoplastic Composite (TS-TP2) deployable booms for SmallSat antenna applications meeting stringent space requirements while offering significant benefits, such as reduced structural mass, and enhanced performance. To achieve improved thermo-mechanical stability of a boom, the project leverages the inherent high fracture toughness of TS-TP2, while utilizing advanced Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) to create highly anisotropic composite booms with tailored fiber orientations. The approach combines multi-physics simulation with experimental testing to capture the complex interactions between manufacturing parameters and material properties. By controlling AFP processing parameters and linking them with material transformation, the research aims to achieve improved thermo-mechanical stability of the deployable booms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 06, 2025
- Source ID
- FA95502510004
Entities
People
- Oleksandr Kravchenko
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Old Dominion University
- United States Air Force