Performance analysis of a damage tolerant composite self-deployable elastic-hinge

Self-deployable composite structures are interesting for the space industry as they efficiently use available, lightweight, and have simple deployment systems. Usually, design of these balances two opposing demands: increasing structural stiffness to meet natural frequencies and/or pointing accuracy requirements flexibility enable stowage. However, most perform a single sequence once in orbit. This article discusses damage tolerant design, allowing initiation during stowage process exchange capability meeting more demanding requirements. A Genetic Algorithm is used maximize frequency elastic-hinge designs: one constrained function elastic regime, other allowed limited Their performance compared based on first obtained, considering deleterious effect stiffness.