Shape Memory Alloy (SMA)-based launch lock

Mircea Badescu; Xiaoqi Bao; Yoseph Bar-Cohen

doi:10.1117/12.2045355

10 April 2014 Shape Memory Alloy (SMA)-based launch lock

Mircea Badescu, Xiaoqi Bao, Yoseph Bar-Cohen

Proceedings Volume 9061, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2014; 90613L (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2045355
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2014, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Most NASA missions require the use of a launch lock for securing moving components during the launch or securing the payload before release. A launch lock is a device used to prevent unwanted motion and secure the controlled components. The current launch locks are based on pyrotechnic, electro mechanically or NiTi driven pin pullers and they are mostly one time use mechanisms that are usually bulky and involve a relatively high mass. Generally, the use of piezoelectric actuation provides high precession nanometer accuracy but it relies on friction to generate displacement. During launch, the generated vibrations can release the normal force between the actuator components allowing free motion of the shaft, which could result in damage to the actuated structures or instruments. This problem is common to other linear actuators that consist of a ball screw mechanism. The authors are exploring the development of a novel launch lock mechanism that is activated by a shape memory alloy (SMA) material ring, a rigid element and an SMA ring holding flexure. The proposed design and analytical model will be described and discussed in this paper.

Citation Download Citation

Mircea Badescu, Xiaoqi Bao, and Yoseph Bar-Cohen "Shape Memory Alloy (SMA)-based launch lock", Proc. SPIE 9061, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2014, 90613L (10 April 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2045355

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