scholarly journals Design and characterization of a small-scale solar sail deployed by NiTi Shape Memory actuators

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 1451-1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Girolamo Costanza ◽  
Maria Elisa Tata
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory ◽  
Solar Sail ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Shape Memory Actuators

scholarly journals A Novel Self-Deployable Solar Sail System Activated by Shape Memory Alloys

Aerospace ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluigi Bovesecchi ◽  
Sandra Corasaniti ◽  
Girolamo Costanza ◽  
Maria Elisa Tata
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory Alloys ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Solar Sail ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Space Vehicles ◽  
Solar Sails ◽  
Suitable Material ◽  
Transfer Mechanisms

This work deals with the feasibility and reliability about the use of shape memory alloys (SMAs) as mechanical actuators for solar sail self-deployment instead of heavy and bulky mechanical booms. Solar sails exploit radiation pressure a as propulsion system for the exploration of the solar system. Sunlight is used to propel space vehicles by reflecting solar photons from a large and light-weight material, so that no propellant is required for primary propulsion. In this work, different small-scale solar sail prototypes (SSP) were studied, manufactured, and tested for bending and in three different environmental conditions to simulate as much as possible the real operating conditions where the solar sails work. Kapton is the most suitable material for sail production and, in the space missions till now, activated booms as deployment systems have always been used. In the present work for the activation of the SMA elements some visible lamps have been employed to simulate the solar radiation and time-temperature diagrams have been acquired for different sail geometries and environmental conditions. Heat transfer mechanisms have been discussed and the minimum distance from the sun allowing the full self-deployment of the sail have also been calculated.

scholarly journals Shape Memory Activated Self-Deployable Solar Sails: Small-Scale Prototypes Manufacturing and Planarity Analysis by 3D Laser Scanner

Actuators ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Boschetto ◽  
Luana Bottini ◽  
Girolamo Costanza ◽  
Maria Elisa Tata
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Solar Sail ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Propulsive Force ◽  
Momentum Exchange ◽  
Solar Sails ◽  
Level Curves ◽  
Wolfram Mathematica ◽  
Critical Zones

Solar sails are propellantless systems where the propulsive force is given by the momentum exchange of reflecting photons. Thanks to the use of shape memory alloys for the self-actuation of the system, complexity of the structure itself has decreased and so has the weight of the whole structure. Four self-deploying systems based on the NiTi shape memory wires have been designed and manufactured in different configurations (wires disposal and folding number). The deployed solar sails surfaces have been acquired by a Nextengine 3D Laser Scanner based on the Multistripe Triangulation. 3D maps have been pre-processed through Geomagic Studio and then elaborated in the Wolfram Mathematica environment. The planarity degree has been evaluated as level curves from the regression plane highlighting marked differences between the four configurations and locating the vertices as the most critical zones. These results are useful in the optimization of the best folding solution both in the weight/surface reduction and in the planarity degree of the solar sail.

scholarly journals Design and Characterization of a Small-Scale Solar Sail Prototype by Integrating NiTi SMA and Carbon Fibre Composite

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Girolamo Costanza ◽  
Gabriele Leoncini ◽  
Fabrizio Quadrini ◽  
Maria Elisa Tata
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fibre ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Fibre Composite ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Solar Sail ◽  
Structure Design ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Momentum Exchange ◽  
Carbon Fibre Composite ◽  
Solar Sails

Solar sails are propellantless systems where the propulsive force is given by the momentum exchange of reflecting photons. In this study, a self-deploying system based on NiTi shape memory wires and sheets has been designed and manufactured. A small-scale prototype of solar sail with carbon fibre loom has been developed. Different configurations have been tested to optimize material and structure design of the small-scale solar sail. In particular the attention has been focused on the surface/weight ratio and the deployment of the solar sail. By reducing weight and enlarging the surface, it is possible to obtain high values of characteristic acceleration that is one of the main parameters for a successful use of the solar sail as propulsion system. Thanks to the use of shape memory alloys for self-actuation of the system, complexity of the structure itself decreases. Moreover, sail deployment is simpler.

Cu-AI based single crystal shape memory actuators and drives

2003 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
pp. 1181-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Vahhi ◽  
S. Pulnev ◽  
A. Priadko
Keyword(s):  
Single Crystal ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Crystal Shape ◽  
Shape Memory Actuators

Optical and Chemical Characterization of Aerosols Emitted from Coal, Heavy and Light Fuel Oil, and Small-Scale Wood Combustion

2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 827-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna K. Frey ◽  
Karri Saarnio ◽  
Heikki Lamberg ◽  
Fanni Mylläri ◽  
Panu Karjalainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Fuel Oil ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Wood Combustion
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