High-Level Project Summary
The design I have submitted aims to reduce the amount of debris caused by payload or satellite separation in space. By developing a non-explosive means of release, often in the form of breaking a bolt of cutting a line. In my design I have focused on the breaking of bolts, with a general idea of causing a bolt to break under a pre-determined fatigue line. Similar to how current methods work. However, my design uses the expansion of one material against another, where a heated up collar around a closed bolt expands, providing additional stress in the bolt, causing it to fracture. Separating cleanly with all components attached to one or the opposite side of the bolt.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
A thermal collar that is simply composed of 2 or more materials or layers. Each with different expansion rates. The material with the lower expansion rate is to be the load bearing material, or at least the one with main contact of the two objects that require separation.
When heated from a heating element or wrap, the material with the higher expansion rate causes the other load bearing material to break along a pre-determined break line. Separating with little force.
This will be modelled as a proof of concept, rather than a final design.
Space Agency Data
N/A
Hackathon Journey
I have gained a keen interest in the prevention and removal of Space Debris over the last year from completing my 4th Year Individual Project at the University of Strathclyde.
Within this project I designed a low-cost 3-Unit active debris removal CubeSat, capable of preventing further satellite collisions and damages. Through missions for deorbiting or repositioning debris, focusing on the region of Low Earth Orbit.
As I have completed a past project of providing a solution to a global problem, I am excited to start a new project which narrows down the focus point to preventing one of the causes of small space debris, such as Payload Separation.
Even though there are already solutions stating that they do not add to existing debris, I believe it is important to innovate on already existing solutions. From doing this, newer and more efficient methods can be discovered, and even if the effectiveness of solutions do not exceed those of competitors. Technologies combined can be refined and may be able to provide a use in other industries.
Although this project has been submitted with a lack of feasible evidence of success, I hope that the general idea of this design is translated simply. Under the circumstances where I have not fallen ill due to COVID-19, I would have liked to be able to gain a grater motivation and determination for completing a fully finished, tested and polished version of this project. I understand that if more time were to be taken to this project, aspects through every component would change, however the base idea will remain the same.
References
PACSCI, Industry-Specific High Energy ~ Designed to Exceed your Mission-Critical Standards.
https://psemc.com/products/explosive-bolts-sep-bolts/
Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defence, Explosive Separation Bolt.
https://www.ebad.com/separation-release-deployment/
Young Ik Yoo, Ju Won Jeong, Jae Hyuk Lim, Kyung-Won Kim, Do-Soon Hwang et al, Development of a non-explosive release actuator using shape memory alloy wire, 2013
https://koasas.kaist.ac.kr/bitstream/10203/174612/1/000314729100056.pdf
Xixiong Wang, Zhaoye Qin, Jifeng Ding, Fulei Chu, Finite element modeling and pyroshock response analysis of separation nuts, Aerospace Science and Technology, 2017.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1270963817309331
Ryan Bradley, POPULAR SCIENCE, Grabbing hold and letting go: The exploding bolts that bring us to space, March 28th, 2019.
https://www.popsci.com/exploding-bolts-travel-through-space/
Bolt Catchers, BBC NEWS CHANNEL, Space Shuttle: Return to Flight.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/05/shuttle_guide/html/bolt_catchers.stm
Thread: pyrotechnic fasteners---part one, PRACTICAL MECHANIST
Tags
#Design, #Mechanical