Flexible Multifunctional Structural Health Monitoring Systems for Inflatable Space Habitat Structures

Abstract

Space structures are one of the most critical components for any spacecraft, as they must provide the maximum amount of livable volume with the minimum amount of mass. Inflatable, deployable structures in particular, have been investigated by NASA since the early 1950’s and used in a number of spaceflight applications. Inflatable habitats, airlocks, and space stations can be used for in-space living spaces and surface exploration missions. Inflatable structures are being pursued as candidates for long-term habitats in space and on the surfaces of the Moon and Mars. Many concepts by the NASA and industry utilize high-strength, low-weight softgoods materials, such as Vectran, as the primary load-bearing structure in inflatable habitats. The ability to monitor and assess the structural health of an inflatable module is an important factor in determining the feasibility of using inflatable technologies for habitat requirements, especially in the presence of micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) threats. There is therefore a need for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) methods to perform detection, localization, and quantification of damage to structural layers throughout the structure’s mission. This capability must be accomplished within real constraints for sensor volume, mass, and crew resources, including being able to perform effective damage monitoring of the inflatable habitat layers from the interior during a mission either on a routine basis or as a quickresponse basis. This paper discusses the development of an approach for SHM for inflatable softgoods, and testing a laboratory proof of concept of the preliminary design, which integrates the SHM approach into inflatable habitat test articles. An experimental test setup for performing the initial feasibility demonstration for impact detection using SMART Layer sensors. An initial test setup for testing was developed and testing performed for impact detection.