Evaluation of Deployable Structures for Space Enclosures

Abstract

The paper is a critical review of different structural systems that have been proposed to date for the purpose of deployable space enclosure. The structural systems are classified by their morphological and kinematic characteristics, and comparatively evaluated in terms of their structural efficiency, technical complexity and deployment/stowage efficiencies. Although the main focus is on kinematically deployable structures, some retractable and dismountable configurations are also reviewed. The paper includes an extended list of references.