Deployment shock attenuation of a solar array tape hinge by means of the Martensite detwinning of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy

This paper presents a new tape hinge for attenuating the deployment shock of a satellite solar array. This hinge uses the Martensite detwinning of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA). To attenuate the deployment shock, a NiTi SMA strip is assembled between two curved steel strips. The attenuation performance of the hinge is analyzed using a SMA detwinning constitutive equation. A prototype of the hinge is manufactured and its characteristics are measured in a bending test and in a deployment test. Finally, the deployment performance of the prototype hinge is investigated on a satellite model. It is shown that the new SMA damped tape hinge can effectively minimize the deployment shock and dynamic perturbation while also maintaining suitable deployment performance.