Effects of fiber non-linearity and matrix type on the realization of foldable structures

High strain composite (HSC) shells made from carbon fiber (CF) reinforced polymers can enable considerable mass savings in deployable space structures. Minimizing the packaged volume while maintaining structural stiffness, is a key challenge in the design of HSC structures and requires accurate prediction of a structure’s behavior during folding. A major unknown in the design of such structures is the non-linear material behavior and its effects...