Coiling dynamic analysis of thin-walled composite deployable boom

Thin-walled composite deployable structures are an attractive solution for many aerospace missions, especially when large configurations are required. This paper investigates the feasibility of coiling an ultra-thin composite boom into a small deployment system. Detailed simulation of the coiling process of a C-section boom made from a two-ply laminate of carbon fiber reinforced plastic was performed using non-linear explicit dynamic analysis. A complete description of the analysis parameters that control the numerical stability of the simulation, and of the boundary conditions and loads adopted to perform the folding process are reported within this paper. The simulation is divided into two consecutive stages: the flattening of the boom, and the coiling inside the deployment device. The accuracy of the results is verified using energy balance assessments, and the structural strength of the boom is evaluated via three specific failure criteria. A parametric analysis of geometrical parameters was carried out in order to find out the slot configuration allowing the boom to fold without reaching its failure.