The tape measure spring is a component similar in shape to a steel tape measure, and is a single-layer open cylindrical shell. A hinge structure can be designed and developed by using its shell buckling properties. This hinge structure has unique mechanical properties. It can use the elastic strain energy accumulated during folding to realize the automatic unfolding of the structure without the need for other power devices; after unfolding, it can rely on its own rigidity. without the need for additional locking devices. Such hinges can be used in large space deployable structures, such as deployable solar wings.
The geometric elements and material properties of the steel tape spring, the geometric shape of the steel tape is an open cylindrical shell with a certain length, and its geometric elements include the thickness of the tape t, the radius of curvature R, the angle day and the length L. These geometric elements will affect the mechanical properties of the tape measure. The main material properties related to mechanical properties include elastic modulus E and Poisson's ratio. In the following analysis, we use the elastic modulus E as , and the Poisson's ratio as 0.3.
The hinge-driven solar wing unfolds very smoothly, but the torsional stiffness after the hinge is bent is insufficient and needs to be improved. In addition, due to the small elastic modulus of the steel tape measure material, its driving force is limited, so it is still difficult to use it in large solar panels. Due to the large gap in the hinge, there will be large vibration, so the structural form of the hinge still needs to be improved