Morphing aerospace structures pose a difficult design challenge requiring to concurrently maximize load-carrying capabilities, minimize weight and provide large deflections \[1\]. To address these conflicting characteristics the utilization of variable modulus materials \[2\] and variable stiffness structures \[3,4\] have been proposed. Amongst the latter class, multistable structures offer the potential to reduce the necessary actuation weight to attain large deflections owing to their inherent ability to attain several geometrical configurations \[5–7\]. In particular, multistable structures do not need continuous actuation and switching between stable configurations can be achieved with small strokes. An important problem of such structures is the introduction of boundary constraints that do not destroy the desired multistability characteristics \[8\]. Studying the conditions under which multistability is preserved when elastic boundary constraints are imposed to enable connectivity with larger compliant systems remains an important question. Assuring multistability under the presence of such constraints would allow implementation of such structures into morphing systems.

In this work, we present a study on the effects on the multistability on tape springs when elastically constrained. We extend analytical models \[9,10\] to explore the configuration space and find the conditions for which multistability is lost. In particular, we investigate the interplay between pre-stress, geometry and elastic constraint with the objective of maximizing the number of possible stable configurations using tape springs as base structural concept. We validate our results conducting finite element simulations for representative cases. This study will inform future design of morphing structures with an expanded design space profiting from embeddable multistable elements.

  
References  
1.    Campanille, L. F. Lightweight Shape-Adaptable Airfoils: A New Challenge for an Old Dream. in (eds. Wagg, D. J., Bond, I., Weaver, P. M. & Friswell, M. I.) 89–135 (John Wiley & Sons, 2007).  
2.    McKnight, G. & Henry, C. Variable stiffness materials for reconfigurable surface applications. in Proceedings of the SPIE. Smart Structures and Materials: Active Materials: Behavior and Mechanics. (2005).  
3.    Kuder, I. K., Arrieta, A. F., Raither, W. E. & Ermanni, P. Variable stiffness material and structural concepts for morphing applications. Prog. Aerosp. Sci. 63, (2013).  
4.    Arrieta, A. F., Kuder, I. K., Waeber, T. & Ermanni, P. Variable stiffness characteristics of embeddable multi-stable composites. Compos. Sci. Technol. 97, (2014).  
5.    Kuder, I. K., Fasel, U., Ermanni, P. & Arrieta, A. F. Concurrent design of a morphing aerofoil with variable stiffness bi-stable laminates. Smart Mater. Struct. 25, (2016).  
6.    Kuder, I. K., Arrieta, A. F., Rist, M. & Ermanni, P. Aeroelastic response of a selectively compliant morphing aerofoil featuring integrated variable stiffness bi-stable laminates. J. Intell. Mater. Syst. Struct. 27, (2016).  
7.    Bowen, C. R., Butler, R., Jervis, R., Kim, H. A. & Salo, A. I. T. Morphing and Shape Control using Unsymmetrical Composites. J. Intell. Mater. Syst. Struct. 18, 89–98 (2007).  
8.    Udani, J. P. & Arrieta, A. F. Analytical Modeling of Multi-sectioned Bi-stable Composites: Stiffness Variability and Embeddability. Compos. Struct. 216, 228–239 (2019).  
9.    Guest, S. D. & Pellegrino, S. Analytical models for bistable cylindrical shells. Proc. R. Soc. A Math. Phys. Eng. Sci. 462, 839–854 (2006).  
10.    Kebadze, E., Guest, S. D. & Pellegrino, S. Bistable Prestressed Shell Structures. Int. J. Solids Struct. 41, 2801–2820 (2004).

 


Effect of Boundary Conditions on Multistability of Tape Springs

Division / Sponsors: 
Aerospace Division

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/SMASIS/SMASIS2020/volume/84027

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