Design and analysis of smart release devices based on shape memory polymer composites

Pyrotechnic release devices of spacecraft produce high-shock and contamination, which are hazardous. Mechanical release devices can overcome these disadvantages, but they tend to be complex and costly. In this paper, new kinds of release devices (smart release devices) with the advantages of no pyrotechnic, light weight, and simple structure are proposed, which are made of carbon fiber reinforced styrene-based shape memory polymer composite. The key element of the devices is the shape memory polymer composite cylinder (thin-walled tube). First, the smart release devices are designed based on three different deformation ways of the cylinder. Second, the deformation models are analyzed to verify the feasibility of the smart release devices. Then the smart release devices are made according to the design, they agree well with the simulations obtained from ABAQUS. Finally, the tensile experiments were conducted to get the structural strength of the devices. Different forms of the deformation were tested and compared, obtained the release time of the devices.