Technologies > Thin Films > Deployability

A further advantage of form stiffened shells is that upon removal of the launch constraints/tie downs, the shells self deploy due to the release of the stowed strain energy. This deployment occurs without the need for or dependence on additional external energy. This is in contrast to many proposed gossamer structure deployment and rigidization processes which depend on pressure, thermal, or UV radiation to deploy and stabilize the aperture into the desired final shape. Deployment tests have been successfully completed on apertures up to 1-m in size and observed behavior is expected to scale to larger sizes. Representative deployment results for different stowage configurations for a 0.5m roll stowed shell are shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11. These results highlight the simplicity of the stowage and self deployment characteristics of form stiffened single surface shells. As can be seen from the images, the deployment process is well controlled and deterministic. The use of a support rim in these tests is only a simplification used during ground based deployment testing. Once deployed, shells are self supporting in 1-G (with some edge deformation) on as few as 4 posts. Deployment rate can be influenced by such factors as roll stowage diameter, material properties and surface geometry.

Still images from supported dual roll deployment quantification test