Bending Mechanical Properties of Laminated Composite Tape-Spring Unit

To improve the operation stability and reliability and reduce the structural weight, the flexural properties of tape spring made of laminated composite material were studied. The mechanical properties including driving ability and self-locking ability of tape spring represented strain energy, steady moment and represented buckling critical moment were investigated. The influences of composite ply angle, layer thickness and radius of cross section of tape spring on mechanical properties were researched in the bending and folding process. Results show that the driving ability of tape spring increases with self-locking ability steady as the composite ply angle grows; the composite ply angle and radius of cross section lead to improvement of driving and self-locking ability; and the phenomena of deformation of cross section and of minute rebound has risen due to growth of composite ply angle and radius of cross section. This research has important reference value for improving the driving performance of space tape-spring hinge.