Thermal design and analysis of a flexible solar array system based on shape memory polymer composites

Smart structures based on shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) have attracted extensive attention because of their unique self-deployment behavior. This study investigated the thermal design and analysis of the SMPC flexible solar array system (SMPC-FSAS). The thermal design ensured the reliability of the deployment functionality and desirable structural temperatures. The fundamental properties of the shape-memory materials were obtained by dynamic mechanical analysis and shape fixity ratio tests. Thermal experiments, including the thermal balance test (TBT), thermal vacuum test and thermal cycle test were conducted to verify the safety and reliability of the SMPC-FSAS. Additionally, the temperature distribution of the SMPC-FSAS was simulated using numerical analysis. Notably, a geostationary satellite carrying the SMPC-FSAS was successfully launched into a geosynchronous orbit and controlled deployment was accomplished for the first time. The prediction of the numerical model was consistent with the TBT and on-orbit data, thus validating the accuracy of the numerical method. The research in this work has important reference significance for ultra-large SMPC-FSAS in the future.