Space deployable parabolic reflector based on shape memory polymer composites

In this paper, a deployable parabolic reflector based on epoxy-based shape memory polymer (SMP) is investi-gated. A deployable SMP composite parabolic reflector with a diameter of 400 mm is designed and fabricated according to laboratory equipment conditions. The storage ratio and collapsed surface curvature of the three folding patterns are compared using finite element analysis (FEA). Then FEA is used to analyze the reflector's folding and deploying process by investigating the shape memory behaviors during these two processes as well as predicting the deploying time. Finally, the reflector folding and deploying tests are completed. The reflector's shape fixation ratio, recovery ratio, and deploying time are measured to verify this pattern's feasibility and rationality.