Wrinkling control of inflatable booms using smart material patch

Abstract

The methodology to restrain the growth of wrinkling region in inflatable boom is numerically and experimentally investigated. The inflatable boom structure is numerically modeled by using ABAQUS finite element program with membrane elements. To consider the nonlinear deformations of inflatable boom due to wrinkling, the numerical algorithm of wrinkling based on Miller-Hedgepeth membrane theory is developed using user defined material (UMAT) subroutine supported by ABAQUS. The experimental model of inflatable boom is made of Kapton film. To characterize the nonlinear behaviors of inflatable boom, the bending tests for various internal pressures are performed. To delay the growth of wrinkled region and restore the deformed shape of inflatable boom, shape memory alloy (SMA) wire actuator attached on surface of the structure is applied.