Multiscale finite element modeling of origami-inspired dual matrix deployable composite with visco-hyperelastic hinge

Dual matrix deployable composites with viscoelastic materials are prone to experiencing relaxation in their stored strain energy, leading to potential degradation in their deployment performance. This study presents a multiscale FE modeling approach to investigate the folding and deployment behavior of origami inspired dual-matrix deployable composite with visco-hyperelastic hinge. A typical dual-matrix origami composite fold was manufactured using a hot compression molding technique and hand layup method and folding tests were carried out. The visco-hyperelastic behavior of elastomer used in the folding region was characterized. Experiments were carried out on elastomer under rate dependent loading, single-step, multi-step, and cyclic tests and material parameters for constitutive model were identified. The homogenized properties of hybrid laminate and elastomer laminate were obtained from XCT-driven FE based homogenization of real RVE. First, the multiscale FE model was validated with the experimentally-measured moment-curvature diagram. Next, the proposed multiscale FE model was employed to simulate the influence of modulus relaxation of pure elastomer on the deployment behavior of a simple rectangular fold and an origami-inspired waterbomb base structure. The variation of moment-curvature, and relaxation in strain energies during stowage under controlled and free deployment are reported. The effect of incomplete folding and stowage durations on strain energy and deployment time was investigated. In the end, the influence of the loading rate effect on the bending stiffness relaxation of pure elastomer and elastomer laminate fold was investigated.