Design and demonstration of a high authority shape morphing structure

A concept for a high authority shape morphing plate is described and demonstrated. The design incorporates an active back-plane comprising a Kagome truss, capable of changing the shape of a solid face, connected to the back-plane by means of a tetrahedral truss core. The two shape deformations to be demonstrated consist of hinging and twisting. The design is performed by a combination of analytic estimation and numerical simulation, guided by previous assessments of the Kagome configuration. It is shown that, while the structure is capable of sustaining large passive loads at low weight, the demonstrable authority is actuator-limited. The full potential of the system can only be realized by developing and incorporating superior actuators. An optimization has been used to ascertain the largest displacements achievable within the force capability of the actuators. These displacements have been demonstrated and shown to correspond with values predicted by numerical simulation. The consistency between measured and calculated responses has allowed objectives to be set for alternative materials, as well as structural and actuator enhancements. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.