Keywords
compliant mechanism, monolithic, hinge, large displacement, deployment, rotational, joint, space mechanism
Abstract
This paper describes the design, analysis, and testing of a large-displacement monolithic compliant rotational hinge, called the Flex-16. The Flex-16 achieves 90 of rotation from monolithic construction and is aimed for application as a compliant satellite deployment hinge. Five prototypes were fabricated from three different materials (polypropylene, titanium, and a carbon nanotube framework) on two different size scales (macro and micro). A parametric finite element model was created to rapidly analyze a variety of design identified during a configuration study. Prototypes were tested for their ability to reach 90 of rotation without failure or self collision, and for their nonlinear rotational stiffness. Natural frequencies, mode shapes, thermal stresses, off-axis stiffness, and parasitic center shift were quantified. Integrated application concepts are presented.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Fowler, Robert McIntyre; Maselli, Alex; Pluimers, Peter; Magleby, Spencer P.; and Howell, Larry L., "Flex-16: A Large-Displacement Monolithic Compliant Rotational Hinge" (2014). Faculty Publications. 1554.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/1554
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2014-12
Permanent URL
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/3471
Publisher
Elsevier
Language
English
College
Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Copyright Status
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is the author's submitted version of this article. The definitive version can be found at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094114X14002055. DOI: doi:10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2014.08.008.
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