Polyarylate ropes are increasingly utilized in flexible and deployable structures of spacecraft. However, their stress relaxation behavior can critically influence operational performance and structural stability. In this study, a novel stress relaxation experimental system and a stress relaxation model based on the generalized Maxwell model were developed to comprehensively investigate the stress relaxation behavior of polyarylate fiber and braided polyarylate ropes with varying pitch lengths under different load levels. The results indicate that polyarylate fibers exhibit similar steady-state relaxation rates under 25% and 50% of the breaking strength but relax significantly faster at 75%, as more molecular chain segments are activated. Polyarylate ropes with different pitch lengths show comparable stress decay patterns at 50% of the breaking strength, but ropes with shorter pitch lengths relax at higher rates under the same load. The stress relaxation model reveals two relaxation modes for fibers and three for ropes. The first relaxation mode and the second relaxation mode reflect the rapid molecular chain arrangement in primary relaxation and the restricted chain segments motion within the limited molecular structure space in the steady-state relaxation, respectively. The third relaxation mode, identified only in ropes, is mainly associated with the rearrangement of fibers and yarns during the rope relaxation process. These findings offer a clearer understanding of the multiscale stress relaxation mechanisms of polyarylate fibers and braided polyarylate ropes, and provide valuable guidance for optimizing the structural design deployable spacecraft systems.
LimenehDYYilmaKT.Article review on Vectran-super fiber from thermotropic crystals of rigid-rod polymer. J Eng2021;
2021: 6646148. DOI: 10.1155/2021/6646148.
2.
UyorUOPopoolaAPIPopoolaOM, et al.
Polymeric cladding materials under high temperature from optical fibre perspective: a review. Polym Bull2020;
77: 2155–2177. DOI: 10.1007/s00289-019-02830-y.
3.
NavaNColladoMPalladinoM, et al. A novel hold-down and release mechanism for non-explosive actuators based on SMA technology. In: 16th European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium, Bilbao, 23–25 September 2015. Paris: European Space Agency, pp. 23–25.
4.
SauderJ. Deployment mechanisms for reflectors, booms, and feeds across JPL missions and technology. In: 2024 IEEE Wireless Antenna and Microwave Symposium (WAMS), Visakhapatnam, 29 March 2024, New York: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
5.
CapuaMDAkinDDavisK. Design, development, and testing of an inflatable habitat element for NASA lunar analogue studies. In: 41st International Conference on Environmental Systems, Portland, 17–21 July 2011. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
6.
TenorioLYokozekiTSatoJ.Structural design of super pressure balloon habitat on the Moon. Acta Astronaut2022;
195: 183–203. DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.02.031.
7.
RossiMSuminiVViscusoS, et al. Designing with technical textiles on Mars: Material properties and sustainable-by-design principles for enhancing efficient construction in extreme environments. In: 2nd Italian Workshop on Shell and Spatial Structures, Turin, 26–28 June 2023. New York: Springer Nature, pp. 462–471.
8.
AugustijnJBongersEDefenceA, et al. Engineering test results of NELS hold-down and release system. In: 17th European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium, Hatfield, 20–22 September 2017. Paris: European Space Agency, pp. 20–22.
9.
LiuRGuoHLiuR, et al.
Shape accuracy optimization for cable-rib tension deployable antenna structure with tensioned cables. Acta Astronaut2017;
140: 66–77. DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2017.07.047.
10.
ValleGDLittekenDJonesTC. Review of habitable softgoods inflatable design, analysis, testing, and potential space applications. In: AIAA Scitech 2019 Forum, San Diego, 7–11 Jan 2019. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, p. 1018.
11.
WangYZhuFRaoQ, et al.
A 3D finite strain viscoelastic model with uncoupled structural and stress relaxations for shape memory polymers. Polym Test2021;
103: 107373. DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2021.107373.
12.
FetteRBSovinskiMF.Vectran fiber time dependant behavior and additional static loading properties. Report no. TM-2004-212773, 2004.
Washington, DC:
NASA.
13.
DingXSunYDongC, et al.
The effects of preloading on tensile properties of braided polyarylate fiber ropes. Text Res J2022;
92: 1344–1354. DOI: 10.1177/004051752110505.
14.
KennerWSJonesTCLe BoffeVM.Controlled Environmental Effects on Creep Test Data of Woven Fabric Webbings for Inflatable Space Modules. Report no. TM-2020-220561, 2020.
Washington, DC:
NASA.
15.
JonesTCDoggettWR. Time-dependent behavior of high strength Kevlar and Vectran webbing. In: 55th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, National Harbor, 13-17 January 2014. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, p.1328.
16.
LiW. Research on creep and stress relaxation of Vectran fiber and rope. Master’s thesis, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 2010.
17.
YangHJ. Thermomechanical deformation of poly-imide braided rope and its influencing factors . Master’s thesis, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 2017.
18.
Abu ObaidAYarlagaddaSGillespieJ.JrCombined effects of kink bands and hygrothermal conditioning on tensile strength of polyarylate liquid crystal co-polymer and aramid fibers. J Compos Mater2016;
50: 339–350. DOI: 10.1177/0021998315574754.
19.
FanceyKS.A mechanical model for creep, recovery and stress relaxation in polymeric materials. J Mater Sci2005;
40: 4827–4831. DOI: 10.1007/s10853-005-2020-x.
20.
ZagubieńAWolniewiczKWesolowskiM.Overview of textile tensile surface structures with the largest uniform area. Text Res J2024: 00405175241268836.
21.
WangQYangXZhangX, et al.
Effect of cure cycles on residual stresses in thick composites using multi-physics coupled analysis with multiple constitutive models. Mater Today Commun2022;
32: 104094. DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2022.104094.
22.
GuedesRMSinghAPintoV.Viscoelastic modelling of creep and stress relaxation behaviour in PLA-PCL fibres. Fibers Polym2017;
18: 2443–2453. DOI: 10.1007/s12221-017-7479-y.
23.
NoyelJ-PHajjarADebastianiR, et al.
Impact of viscoelasticity on the stiffness of polymer nanocomposites: Insights from experimental and micromechanical model approaches. Polymer2024;
309: 127443. DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2024.127443.
24.
AlizadehNCelestineA-DNAuadML, et al.
Mechanical characterization and modeling stress relaxation behavior of acrylic–polyurethane-based graft-interpenetrating polymer networks. 2021;
61: 1299–1309. DOI: 10.1002/pen.25640.
25.
ChenD-LYangP-FLaiY-S.A review of three-dimensional viscoelastic models with an application to viscoelasticity characterization using nanoindentation. Microelectron Reliab2012;
52: 541–558. DOI: 10.1016/j.microrel.2011.10.001.
26.
DingXLiuJJuA, et al.
Fiber-level FE simulation of the braiding process for geometry prediction of braided ropes. Int J Solids Struct2024;
301: 112937. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2024.112937.
27.
AugustijnJGrimminckMBongersE, et al. Development of a non explosive low shock (NELS) holddown and release system. In: 16th European Space Mechanisms & Tribology Symposium ESMATS, Bilbao, 23-25 September 2015, Paris: European Space Agency.
28.
LangstonSLJonesTC.Investigation of High Variability in the Creep Behavior of Vectran Yarn. Report no. TM-20210014024, 2021. NASA.
29.
SbresciaSEngelsTVan RuymbekeE, et al.
Molecular weight effects on the stress-relaxation behavior of soft thermoplastic elastomer by means of temperature scanning stress relaxation (TSSR). J Rheol2022;
66: 1321–1330. DOI: 10.1122/8.0000444.
30.
OrnaghiHLAlmeidaJHSMonticeliFM, et al.
Stress relaxation, creep, and recovery of carbon fiber non-crimp fabric composites. Composites C2020;
3: 100051. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomc.2020.100051.
31.
SomashekarAABickertonSBhattacharyyaD.Modelling the viscoelastic stress relaxation of glass fibre reinforcements under constant compaction strain during composites manufacturing. Composites A2012;
43: 1044–1052. DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2012.02.004.
32.
NaghashzargarEMoezziMManafiS.Stress-relaxation and CRE behavior of multi-layer silk fibroin yarns as a scaffold in tendon and ligament tissue engineering. Fibers Polym2021;
22: 3035–3044. DOI: 10.1007/s12221-021-0409-z.
33.
MorihiroY.Compressive stress relaxation and creep properties of synthetic fiber and regenerated fiber assemblies. In: SalehHM (ed) Polyester.
Rijeka:
IntechOpen, 2012. DOI: 10.5772/48546
34.
LiuFWangJZhangH, et al.
Experimental and constitutive analyses of the stress relaxation behavior of glassy polymers. Polym Eng Sci2023;
63: 1215–1233. DOI: 10.1002/pen.26277.
