Composite tape spring with engineered deployment energy using nanoparticles and methods of making
A tape spring having an elastic layer located in between one or more viscoelastic layers to form an elongated tape spring having a longitudinal axis.
1 . A device for storing energy for the deployment of a structure comprising:
a tape spring, said tape spring comprised of an elastic layer located in between one or more viscoelastic layers to form an elongated tape spring having a longitudinal axis;
said tape spring including a plurality of alumina nanoparticles located in said viscoelastic;
said tape spring having a rolled state and an unfurled state;
in said rolled state said tape spring stores energy;
in said unfurled state said tape spring exerts energy and deploys a structure; and
wherein said alumina nanoparticles reduce the long-term creep and stress relaxation effects of radiation and thermal degradation.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein said elastic layer includes unidirectional carbon fibers held in place by epoxy, said fibers run parallel to said longitudinal axis.
3 . The device of claim 2 wherein one or more said viscoelastic layers include one or more carbon fiber fabrics.
4 . The device of claim 3 wherein said one or more viscoelastic layers include one or more carbon fiber fabrics, aid fabric comprising a plurality of fibers oriented at ±45° to said longitudinal axis.
5 . The device of claim 1 wherein said nanoparticles are 2% weight alumina nanoparticles.