Modeling of tape tether vibration and vibration sensing using smart film sensors

Tape-tethered satellite systems use long and flexible tape tethers, the bending and torsional vibrations of which affect the positions and attitude of attached satellites and climbers. Owing to the distribution characteristics of a tape tether, ordinary point sensors and actuators cannot be used easily to control the vibrations. Other types of sensors and actuators are required for this purpose. The flexibility and deformability of smart materials make them particularly suitable for integration into a tape-tethered system. Thus, in this paper, we propose a method for modeling the bending and torsional vibrations of a tape tether, and report our investigation into the feasibility of using smart film sensors to distinguish between the two vibration types. We formulate equations of motion for the tape tether using multibody dynamics techniques, and perform numerical simulations to study the behavior of the bending and torsional vibrations. The results of our experiments show that the bending and torsional vibrations of a tape tether can be measured using smart film sensors attached to the tether. (C) 2014 IAA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.