Experimental validation study on snap through and coiling up of deployable composite shells

Abstract

Bistable reeled composite shells (BRCS) have been widely used in deployable space structures due to advanced properties of light weight and large volume reduction. A finite element simulation and experimental validation to study the transition of BRCS between their two stable states are performed. In this article, multiscale representative volume element (RVE) modeling is used to compute the equivalent mechanical properties of carbon/epoxy plain woven fabrics that were utilized to construct the deployable composite laminates, followed by experimental verification. The deformation characteristics and strain energy distribution of the deployable composite shell (DCS) during snap through and coiling up are investigated using finite element analysis (FEA) and verified by strain‐gauge and digital image correlation (DIC) tests. The results show that the strain energy distribution in the snap through and coiling up of the carbon/epoxy plain woven BRCS with laminate stacking sequence of [+45/−45] is approximately symmetric. Additionally, an offset phenomena is observed during the coiling up of the BRCS in the finite element modeling. A parametric analysis is complemented to investigate effects of fiber angles on the deformation characteristics and strain energy distribution of the shell structures during snap through and coiling up.Highlights Shell deformation during snap through and coiling up was investigated. DIC test was performed to capture the shell deformation. Strain energy distribution of the deployable composite shell was discussed. Offset phenomena are observed during the coiling up.

Segmented layered bistable piezoelectric laminates for enhanced energy harvesting from wind‐induced vibration

“…Moreover, these systems demonstrate high output characteristics when operating in vibrational states that involve crossing potential wells. A composite laminate panel with inherent bi-stability characteristics 25,26 can utilize its nonlinear response and consistent deformation during configuration transitions to achieve high-output wideband vibration energy harvesting. 27,28 In particular, bi-stable piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters [29][30][31] (BPEHs) have attracted significant attention due to their capability of undergoing substantial reciprocal deformations and generating high strain under higher base accelerations.…”