Design of non-explosive release actuator using shape memory alloy

Abstract Most of the current satellite appendage releasing mechanisms are based on a pyrotechnic switch mechanism, but this induces shock during the dismantling of the appendages. Shape memory alloy (SMA) based non-explosive releasing actuators are newly explored for decreasing shocks while releasing appendages after satellites launched by launch vehicles, compared with pyrotechnic releasing devices. The modeling and analysis of the non-explosive releasing mechanism were carried out with commercially available software, SolidWorks and ANSYS, respectively, in the present work. The releasing actuator system works with a disconnection mechanism that depends on wire-triggered shape memory alloy and a segmented nut mechanism. The efficiency of the releasing(triggering) mechanism depends upon the shape memory alloys, which show a specific behavior that is the capacity to recover the unique shape when heated over particular critical temperatures (shape memory effect). This device is designed to take more pre-load with more levels of shocks compared to the other devices, like pyro metrics releasing devices for mid-range satellites. Since the response of the triggering of the actuation system depends on the response of the shape memory effect of the shape memory alloy wire, thermal analysis of the shape memory alloy wire was carried out extensively, and the results were compared. Novel arrangements and assembly of the actuator were highlighted as well.