Integration of Smart Materials into Dynamics and Control of Inflatable Space Structures

Abstract

An experimental investigation of vibration testing and control of an inflated thin-film torus is presented. Lightweight inflatable structures are a viable alternative in aerospace structure design. These structures, however, pose special problems in testing and in controlling vibrations due to their extremely lightweight, flexible, and high-damping properties. In this study, we show that smart materials, which can be fully integrated into an inflatable space system, could be used as sensors/actuators in order to find modal parameters and to reduce vibrations. The results indicate the potential smart materials for use in the dynamics and control of inflated structures.