Exiting Earth’s gravity is an immense challenge, requiring a significant amount of fuel and power to launch spacecraft into orbit. The sheer amount of energy needed to escape the pull of gravity means that rockets carrying spacecraft are often constrained by strict weight limits, making every gram of cargo critical. To optimize the efficiency of space missions, reducing the overall mass of spacecraft is essential. One promising approach to lighten the load is the use of thin membranes as alternative materials in spacecraft design. These thin films, often employed in spacecraft like solar sails or inflatable habitats, offer a lightweight solution to traditional materials. However, these membranes also come with challenges, particularly in how they deform under stress during use.
Thin membranes tend to wrinkle or stretch under strain, and this deformation can impact the operational performance of the spacecraft. The plastic-like properties of these materials cause them to wrinkle in unpredictable ways, which may interfere with the precise functioning of critical systems. Therefore, a crucial challenge in using thin membranes in space technology is the ability to accurately measure and assess these deformations to ensure that the spacecraft remains operational.
To address this challenge, Professor Takashi Iwasa, a leading expert in engineering at Osaka Metropolitan University, has spearheaded an innovative research project aimed at developing a method to measure the size and extent of wrinkles that form on thin membranes. The research, conducted by Professor Iwasa’s team at the Graduate School of Engineering, focuses on a technique that utilizes photogrammetry with a single camera, offering a practical and cost-effective solution for spacecraft design.
The core of the method lies in capturing photographs of the membrane’s surface both before and after it is subjected to stress. By analyzing the differences in these photographs, the team can determine the amplitude and wavelength of the wrinkles that have formed. These measurements are critical for understanding how the membrane deforms, allowing engineers to predict the material’s behavior under different conditions.
One of the key innovations of this research is the ability to measure the wrinkles using a single camera, rather than the multiple cameras traditionally required for such tasks. Traditionally, capturing the full deformation of a membrane required multiple angles to accurately measure the changes in shape. Professor Iwasa’s method, however, simplifies this process by applying tension-field theory—a concept that helps to calculate the strain and deformation of materials under stress. This theory allows the team to obtain reliable measurements of the wrinkles from just a single camera, eliminating the need for complex multi-camera setups.
To make this measurement even more precise, the research team also developed a system that involves printing measurement points on the membrane’s surface. These points serve as reference markers that help track the movement of the membrane during deformation. By observing how these markers shift position under tension, the team can accurately calculate the extent of the wrinkles and how they affect the overall shape and integrity of the membrane.
Professor Iwasa emphasized the importance of this research in the context of space missions, particularly those that use large thin membrane spacecraft. “In the past, multiple cameras were required to achieve these measurements,” he explained. “But with our new approach, we can easily detect the size of wrinkles using the tension-field theory, and all this can be done with the measurement result of a single-camera photogrammetry system.” This breakthrough method has significant implications for space technology, where space is often limited, and the installation of multiple cameras is not always feasible.
The team’s research is particularly promising for the future of large thin membrane spacecraft. These types of spacecraft, such as those used for solar sails or expandable habitats, require extremely light materials, but their performance can be compromised by the formation of wrinkles or other deformations. Being able to accurately measure these changes in the material could lead to more efficient designs, better understanding of how the membranes will behave during launch and in the harsh conditions of space, and ultimately contribute to more successful missions.
Looking ahead, Professor Iwasa and his team are excited about the potential applications of this method in real-world space missions. “We are conducting this research on large thin membrane spacecraft and expect this method to be used where there is limited space for installing cameras,” he said. This new measurement technology could be especially beneficial for missions involving compact spacecraft, such as those designed for deep space exploration or small-scale satellite systems.
The development of this photogrammetry-based wrinkle measurement method represents a significant advancement in the field of space engineering. By providing a reliable, efficient, and space-saving approach to monitor and analyze the deformation of thin membranes, this technique could play a pivotal role in the design of future spacecraft. As the field of space exploration continues to evolve and the need for lightweight, durable materials increases, research like Professor Iwasa’s offers valuable solutions that could shape the next generation of space technology.
This research not only addresses the specific challenges posed by thin membranes but also contributes to the broader field of materials science, where understanding how materials deform under stress is key to improving their performance in various applications. Whether it is for space exploration, satellite technology, or other fields requiring precise materials engineering, the ability to measure deformation with accuracy and ease will prove essential.
Reference: Takashi Iwasa et al, Monitoring thin membranes for wrinkles using single-camera photogrammetry, Measurement (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2024.116123