Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering >

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11465-013-0267-5

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Shape control of multi-cellular inflatable panels

  • N. KATAYAMA , 1 ,
  • K. ISHIMURA 2 ,
  • K. MINESUGI 2 ,
  • DANIEL J. INMAN 3
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  • 1. The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Kanagawa 252-5210, Japan
  • 2. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Kanagawa 252-5210, Japan
  • 3. Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2140, USA

Received date: 10 Mar 2013

Accepted date: 19 May 2013

Published date: 05 Sep 2013

Copyright

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Abstract

Multi-cellular inflatable structures are ultra-light and robust against membrane damage such as pinholes caused by space debris. Due to their robustness, inflatable structures supported by inner gases can be applied as space structures. In the present study, shape control for a simple multi-cellular inflatable panel was achieved via a novel diaphragm mechanism. When the bending actuator in a center membrane bends, the inner pressures of sub-cells become different, and the diaphragm mechanism bends as a whole. Because a sliding component is not included, this deformable system is a reliable mechanism. In addition, the proposed mechanism has higher rigidity than that of a bending actuator used alone. In the present paper, we investigate the feasibility of a novel diaphragm mechanism and its characteristics using experimental and numerical results.

Key words： Membrane structures; inflatable structure; shape control; smart structures; structural mechanics; space engineering

Cite this article

N. KATAYAMA , K. ISHIMURA , K. MINESUGI , DANIEL J. INMAN . Shape control of multi-cellular inflatable panels[J]. Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering, 0 , 8(3) : 276 -282 . DOI: 10.1007/s11465-013-0267-5

Acknowledgements

The authors thank sincerely Prof. T. Aoki, Prof. K. Higuchi, Prof. Y. Miyazaki, and a member of Kawakami Sangyo Co. Ltd. for valuable comments.

References

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