Modularized directional deployable structure based on temperature control and use method of modularized directional deployable structure

Abstract

The invention discloses a modular directional extensible structure based on temperature control and a use method thereof. The modular directional extensible structure comprises a top plate; the plurality of single-layer deformation structures are connected with the top plate after being overlapped; the single-layer deformation structure comprises two supporting frames which are tightly attached to each other and are arranged in a straight line. A first arch structure mounted on one of the support frames; the second arched structure is mounted on the other supporting frame; and the supporting rod is arranged on the first arch structure and the second arch structure. The bi-material arch serves as a core deformation area and is composed of an elastomer and a shape memory polymer. The material combination endows the extensible structure with the capacity of achieving shape conversion and space steering according to temperature changes, and possibility is provided for multifunctional operation of the extensible structure in a complex environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature-controlled modular deployable structure with directional control and its usage method, belonging to the fields of 4D printing and deployable structures. Technical Background

[0002] In many fields such as aerospace, construction engineering, and wearable devices, there is an increasing demand for structures with flexible deployment and precise directional control functions. However, traditional structures have many limitations in terms of deployment methods and directional control.

[0003] In the aerospace field, equipment such as satellite deployment antennas and solar panels need to be reliably deployed and maintained in a specific direction in the space environment to achieve signal reception and energy acquisition. Conventional mechanical deployment structures rely on complex transmission components, which not only increase the structural weight and cost but also carry the risk of deployment failure due to component failures. Moreover, under extreme temperature conditions in space, the performance of traditional materials will change, affecting the accuracy and reliability of structural deployment. For example, when some satellite antennas are deployed in a low-temperature environment, due to the shrinkage and stiffness change of the materials, they cannot accurately reach the predetermined deployment state and direction, thus affecting communication quality.

[0004] In construction engineering, some large-scale openable building structures need to adjust their structural forms according to environmental changes in different seasons and weather conditions. Traditional hydraulic or electric drive deployment methods not only consume high energy but also are difficult to achieve precise directional control. Especially in the roof opening and closing structures of large stadiums, if the deployment direction and angle cannot be accurately controlled, it may affect the lighting and ventilation effects inside the stadium and even pose safety hazards. Moreover, these drive systems require frequent maintenance during long-term use, increasing the operating cost.

[0005] In the aspect of wearable devices, with the development of smart clothing and portable electronic devices, the demand for foldable and deployable structures is increasing continuously. Existing structures often cannot be stably deployed and maintain a specific shape in different temperature environments. For example, when some wearable medical devices are used in high-temperature or low-temperature environments, their deployment structures may fail due to temperature changes and cannot accurately monitor human physiological parameters. Therefore, developing a temperature-controlled modular deployable structure with directional control, which can achieve reliable deployment and precise directionality under different temperature conditions, is of great significance for the technological upgrading and application expansion of the above-mentioned fields. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the above problems, the present invention proposes a temperature-controlled modular deployable structure with directional control and its usage method. To achieve the above effects, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] A temperature-controlled modular deployable structure with directional control includes:

[0008] Top plate;

[0009] Multiple single-layer deformation structures, which are connected to the top plate after being superimposed;

[0010] The single-layer deformation structure includes:

[0011] Two closely attached and linearly arranged support frames;

[0012] The first arch structure installed on one support frame;

[0013] The second arch structure installed on the other support frame;

[0014] The support rods installed on the first arch structure and the second arch structure.

[0015] The first arch structure is made of two materials, an elastomer and a shape memory polymer;

[0016] The second arch structure is made of two materials, an elastomer and a shape memory polymer.

[0017] The content of the shape memory polymer in the first arch structure is different from the content of the shape memory polymer in the second arch structure.

[0018] The material of the elastomer is Agilus30, and the shape memory polymer is RGD8525-DM.

[0019] The elastomer is thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer rubber, and the shape memory polymer is polylactic acid.

[0020] The number of layers of the single-layer deformation structure is determined according to the required steering angle.

[0021] The usage method of the temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure includes the following steps:

[0022] Step 1: Place the temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure in an environment below the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer, fix the bottom support frame on a plane, and apply an axial load to the top plate to cause the first arch structure and the second arch structure composed of two materials in all layers to undergo snap-through buckling;

[0023] Step 2: Remove the axial load applied to the top plate to make the first arch structure and the second arch structure composed of two materials in all layers stable in the buckled position;

[0024] Step 3: Transfer the temperature-controlled modular deployable structure to an environment with a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer. The shape memory polymer undergoes a phase change under the thermal stimulation of the environment. When the first arched structure reaches the critical deployment temperature, it jumps back to the state before compression, while the second arched structure remains in the buckled configuration. Displacement mismatch occurs on both sides of the deployable structure, resulting in spatial rotation.

[0025] A temperature-controlled modular deployable structure proposed by the present invention has the following advantages:

[0026] (1) Innovative manufacturing process: 3D printing technology is used to manufacture key components such as dual-material arches, support structures, struts, and top plates, providing greater flexibility for the design and manufacturing of deployable structures. Complex shapes and structures can be customized according to actual needs, improving the overall performance.

[0027] (2) Unique material combination: The dual-material arch, as the core deformation region, is composed of an elastomer and a shape memory polymer. This material combination endows the deployable structure with the ability to achieve shape transformation and spatial rotation according to temperature changes, making it possible for the deployable structure to perform multifunctional operations in complex environments.

[0028] (3) Precise rotation control: The difference in the proportion of the materials of the arched structures (1) and (2) composed of two materials makes their properties different, thus enabling precise control of the spatial rotation of the deployable structure. At the same time, the rotation angle of the deployable structure can be precisely controlled according to the number of layers of the dual-material arch, further enhancing the flexibility and precision of the deployable structure to meet fine requirements.

[0029] (4) High energy efficiency: The deployment of the structure is achieved through precise temperature control. Compared with traditional driving methods, it reduces energy consumption and improves energy utilization efficiency. Description of the Drawings

[0030] Figure 1 It is the displacement-strain energy curve of the arched structure (1) composed of two materials in a temperature-controlled modular deployable structure according to the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 It is the displacement-strain energy curve of the arched structure (2) composed of two materials in a temperature-controlled modular deployable structure according to the present invention.

[0032] Figure 3 It is the basic unit of the arched structure (1) composed of two materials that constitutes the core deformation region of a temperature-controlled modular deployable structure according to the present invention.

[0033] Figure 4To form the basic unit of the arch structure (2) composed of two materials in the core deformation area of a temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure described in the present invention.

[0034] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of a temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure described in the present invention. Each layer is jointly composed of an arch structure (1) composed of two materials and an arch structure (2) composed of two materials, so that spatial turning deployment can be realized.

[0035] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram showing the occurrence of snap-through buckling of the arch structure composed of two materials by applying an axial load in the implementation steps of a temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure described in the present invention.

[0036] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram showing that when an external environmental stimulus is applied in the implementation steps of a temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure described in the present invention, the arch structure (1) composed of two materials jumps back to the state before compression when reaching the critical deployment temperature, thereby realizing directional turning.

[0037] Figure 8 It is a modular assembly structure of a temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure described in the present invention. By assembling the deployable structures that can realize spatial turning and those that can only realize a single direction, diverse deployment paths can be achieved.

[0038] Figure 9 It is the displacement nephogram of the finite element simulation of a temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure described in the present invention and the curve of the rotation angle of the top plate 5 varying with temperature.

[0039] Among them, 1 - arch structure (1) composed of two materials, 2 - arch structure (2) composed of two materials, 3 - support frame, 4 - support rod, 5 - top plate, T - critical deployment temperature. Specific implementation manners

[0040] The following will combine with the drawings to detail the implementation manners of the present invention.

[0041] A temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure proposed by the present invention, as Figure 5 shown, it includes an arch structure 1 composed of two materials, an arch structure 2 composed of two materials, a support frame 3, a support rod 4, and a top plate 5. The arch structures 1 and 2 composed of two materials are the core deformation areas, and the support frame 3, the support rod 4, and the top plate 5 are auxiliary support structures. They provide a stable support frame for the entire deployable structure to ensure the integrity and reliability of the structure in different states. The basic unit composed of the arch structure 1 composed of two materials in the core deformation area is as Figure 3 shown, and the basic unit composed of the arch structure 4 composed of two materials is asFigure 3 As shown, it is composed of an elastomer and a shape memory polymer.

[0042] In different layers of the deployable structure, the proportions of the elastomer and the shape memory polymer in the arched structures 1 and 2 composed of the two materials are different. This differential design makes the bistable characteristics of the bi-material arches with different material ratios different, so that the deployment direction of the deployable structure can be precisely controlled. The material of the elastomer is Agilus30, and the shape memory polymer is RGD8525-DM. The area ratio of the elastomer to the shape memory polymer in the arched structure 1 composed of the two materials is 0.435, and the area ratio of the elastomer to the shape memory polymer in the arched structure 2 composed of the two materials is 0.261.

[0043] Figure 3 The basic unit shown exhibits bistability at low temperatures and monostability at high temperatures, as Figure 1 shown. It can be seen that at low temperatures, its displacement-strain energy curve has two minima, corresponding to two stable states. At high temperatures, its displacement-strain energy curve has only one minimum, corresponding to a single stable state. Figure 4 The basic unit shown exhibits bistability at both high and low temperatures, as Figure 2 shown. It can be seen that at both high and low temperatures, its displacement-strain energy curve has two minima, corresponding to two stable states.

[0044] A temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure proposed by the present invention, the specific implementation process includes the following steps:

[0045] Step 1: Place the temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure in an environment below the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer, fix the bottom support frame 3 of the bottom layer on the plane, and apply an axial load to the top plate 5 to cause the arched structures 1 and 2 composed of the two materials in all layers to undergo snap-through buckling, as Figure 6 shown.

[0046] Step 2: Remove the axial load applied to the top plate 5 to make the arched structures 1 and 2 composed of the two materials in all layers stable at the buckled position.

[0047] Step 3: Move the temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure to an environment above the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer. The shape memory polymer undergoes a phase change under environmental thermal stimulation. When all the arched structures 1 composed of the two materials reach the critical deployment temperature, they snap back to the state before compression, as Figure 7 shown. The arched structure 2 composed of the two materials remains in the buckled configuration, and displacement mismatches occur on both sides of the deployable structure, resulting in spatial turning. The turning angle of the temperature-controlled modular deployable structure can be precisely controlled according to the number of layers of the bi-material arch.

[0048] As shown Figure 8 in the figure, for the modular assembly structure of the temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure, by assembling the deployable structures that can achieve spatial turning and those that can only achieve a single direction, diverse deployment paths can be realized.

[0049] Figure 9 This is the displacement nephogram of the finite element simulation of the temperature-controlled modular directional deployable structure described in the present invention and the curve of the rotation angle of the top plate 5 varying with temperature.

Claims

1. A temperature-controlled modular deployable structure, characterized in that: Comprising: Top plate (5); A plurality of single-layer deformation structures, which are stacked and connected to the top plate (5); The single-layer deformation structure includes: Two support frames (3) that are closely attached and arranged in a straight line; A first arched structure (1) installed on one support frame (3); A second arched structure (2) installed on the other support frame (3); A support rod (4) installed on the first arched structure (1) and the second arched structure (2).

2. The temperature-controlled modular deployable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first arched structure (1) is made of two materials, an elastomer and a shape memory polymer; The second arched structure (2) is made of two materials, an elastomer and a shape memory polymer.

3. The temperature-controlled modular deployable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The content of the shape memory polymer in the first arched structure (1) is different from the content of the shape memory polymer in the second arched structure (2).

4. The temperature-controlled modular deployable structure according to claim 1, wherein: The material of the elastomer is Agilus30, and the shape memory polymer is RGD8525-DM.

5. The temperature-controlled modular deployable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastomer is thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer rubber, and the shape memory polymer is polylactic acid.

6. The thermostatic control-based modular deployable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of layers of the single-layer deformation structure is determined according to the required steering angle.

7. The usage method of the temperature-controlled modular deployable structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: Including the following steps: Step 1: Place the temperature-controlled modular deployable structure in an environment below the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer. Fix the lowermost support frame (3) on a plane, and apply an axial load to the top plate (5) to cause the first arched structure (1) and the second arched structure (2) composed of two materials in all layers to undergo snap-through buckling; Step 2: Remove the axial load applied to the top plate (5) to make the first arched structure (1) and the second arched structure (2) composed of two materials in all layers stable in the buckled position; Step 3: Move the temperature-controlled modular deployable structure to an environment above the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer. The shape memory polymer undergoes a phase change under environmental thermal stimulation. When the first arched structure (1) reaches the critical deployment temperature, it jumps back to the state before compression, and the second arched structure (2) remains in the buckled configuration, resulting in displacement mismatch on both sides of the deployable structure and thus generating spatial steering.

Images