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Dava Newman and Niels Holten-Andersen. Wee, Brian (Brian J.) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering 2013-09-24T19:45:41Z 2013-09-24T19:45:41Z 2013 2013 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81144 858283102 Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 2013. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (p. 39-41). This thesis seeks to assess the viability of a space qualified shape memory polymer (SMP) mechanical counter pressure (MCP) suit. A key development objective identified by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group, the development of a superior space suit with greater mobility and environmental robustness is necessary to support long-range human space exploration, specifically a mission to Mars. Conceptualized in 1971, a spacesuit utilizing MCP would fulfill these goals but its development was halted due to inadequate mechanical analysis and material limitations at the time. Since then, new active materials have been assessed to potentially further the development of a space qualified MCP space suit, which include quantitative thresholds for minimum pressure production, durability, pressure distribution, mobility range, and ease of garment donning and doffing. Guided by these criteria, a SMP biaxial tubular braid applying MCP through active compression was designed and the prototype manufacturing processes were outlined. To predict the pressure production of this garment, the thermo-mechanics of a SMP was combined with the textile mechanics of a biaxial tubular braid and simulated within design parameter ranges consistent with the design criteria and practical considerations. The pressure production was controllable with the design parameters SMP elastic modulus, garment radial deformation, textile fiber spacing, and operational temperature. Assuming reasonable model accuracy, a SMP garment could achieve the necessary pressure production for a space qualified MCP suit, however, the durability of such a garment would be questionable considering the creep sustained from consecutive spacewalks of four to eight hours. Recommendations are made for methods to increase model accuracy, suggested SMP actuation mechanisms, and alternative textile architectures. by Brian Wee. S.B. 42 p. eng Massachusetts Institute of Technology M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 Materials Science and Engineering. Assessment and preliminary model development of shape memory polymers mechanical counter pressure space suits Thesis application/pdf Publication unknown unknown <Publication xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/1.1/" id="7bf78e99-fd65-41b2-8c04-e4498d107554"> <Type xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/vocab/COAR_Publication_Types">http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_1843</Type> <Language>eng</Language> <Title>Assessment and preliminary model development of shape memory polymers mechanical counter pressure space suits</Title> <PublishedIn> <Publication> </Publication> </PublishedIn> <PublicationDate>2013</PublicationDate> <Authors> <Author> <DisplayName>Wee, Brian (Brian J.)</DisplayName> <Affiliation> <OrgUnit> </OrgUnit> </Affiliation> </Author> </Authors> <Editors> </Editors> <Publishers> <Publisher> <DisplayName>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</DisplayName> <OrgUnit /> </Publisher> </Publishers> <License>http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582</License> <Keyword>Materials Science and Engineering.</Keyword> <Abstract>This thesis seeks to assess the viability of a space qualified shape memory polymer (SMP) mechanical counter pressure (MCP) suit. A key development objective identified by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group, the development of a superior space suit with greater mobility and environmental robustness is necessary to support long-range human space exploration, specifically a mission to Mars. Conceptualized in 1971, a spacesuit utilizing MCP would fulfill these goals but its development was halted due to inadequate mechanical analysis and material limitations at the time. Since then, new active materials have been assessed to potentially further the development of a space qualified MCP space suit, which include quantitative thresholds for minimum pressure production, durability, pressure distribution, mobility range, and ease of garment donning and doffing. Guided by these criteria, a SMP biaxial tubular braid applying MCP through active compression was designed and the prototype manufacturing processes were outlined. To predict the pressure production of this garment, the thermo-mechanics of a SMP was combined with the textile mechanics of a biaxial tubular braid and simulated within design parameter ranges consistent with the design criteria and practical considerations. The pressure production was controllable with the design parameters SMP elastic modulus, garment radial deformation, textile fiber spacing, and operational temperature. Assuming reasonable model accuracy, a SMP garment could achieve the necessary pressure production for a space qualified MCP suit, however, the durability of such a garment would be questionable considering the creep sustained from consecutive spacewalks of four to eight hours. Recommendations are made for methods to increase model accuracy, suggested SMP actuation mechanisms, and alternative textile architectures.</Abstract> <Access xmlns="http://purl.org/coar/access_right" > </Access> </Publication>