Experimental Characterization of Lightweight Strain Energy Deployment Hinges

Abstract

Elastic, lenticular hinges have been used for many years to provide simple, reliable, repeatable deployment of spacecraft structural components. Recent advances in high performance elastically flexible composites have opened up the application field for this useful deployment component by providing lighter, more thermally stable hinges as well as designs that can meet a much wider range of requirements. This paper describes recent advances in composite hinge performance through a combination of analysis and testing.