Affiliations: [a] School of Mechatronics Engineering, Harbin Institute
of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Jing Jiang, School of Mechatronics
Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang,
China. Tel.: +86 0451 864 020 57; E-mail: block@hit.edu.cn
Abstract: In order to improve the technical specifications of space
reflectors, antennas and other payloads on Earth observation, space
communication, deep space exploration and other fields of space applications,
people urgently need to enhance the surface shape control accuracy of these
large complex curvature flexible structures. Based on the photovoltaic effect
and converse piezoelectric effect, this paper presents a non-contact
shape-adjusting method which adopts a new space energy conversion: using the
PLZT photovoltage, which is controlled by the ultraviolet, to activate the PVDF
attached on the flexible structure surface, and adjust and control the
structure's shape. This paper firstly built up the electric model of the
PLZT/PVDF hybrid drive, derived the constitutive relation of
light-electric-mechanical energy field conversion, and determined the key
parameters in mathematical model by principle experiments. Then, taking a
flexible cantilever beam as the control object, actuation equation of the PVDF
bonded structure was built, and actuation properties and influence factors of
the cantilever beam actuated by the PLZT/PVDF hybrid drive were simulated and
analyzed. After that, the hybrid drive experiment system was built up, and
deflecting effect of using ultraviolet illuminated PLZT to actuate PVDF bonded
cantilever beam was tested, whose result verified the validity of theoretical
modeling and simulation analysis. Lastly, characteristics of the hybrid drive
method and conventional PVDF driving were compared, and space application
direction of this method was pointed out.
