EQUILIBRIUM AND STABILITY ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITE SLIT TUBES

This paper considers a deployable structure, of tubular cross-section, manufactured from a novel composite layup which ensures that it is stable in both its extended and coiled forms. A beam model has been derived which predicts the deformations as the structure moves from one equilibrium state to the other, and predicts the location of the second equilibrium state. This model is now being extended to also consider the stability of the second equilibrium position.