Piezoelectric Adaptive Shell Reflectors for Future Space Telescopes

Inhalt:
This paper describes a concept of piezoelectric shell structure conducted in the framework of the ESA-GSTP-6 project “MATS”. The technology is developed for future space telescopes due to great potentials in terms of stowability and areal density of form stiffened shells. A preliminary small-scale technology demonstrator has been designed and manufactured with thin polymer flat-plate structure made of PEEK covered on the back with a layer of active piezoelectric material PVDF-TrFe controlled with an array of independent electrodes. The paper presents the experimental results obtained in the early stage of this project.