Abstract
Cyclic tensile tests of a quartz fiber cable assembly for a deployable antenna reflector on satellite was performed. The cable assembly showed non-linear tensile behavior in the first cycle, which caused large residual displacement after unloading. In the following cycles, relatively linear tensile behavior was observed as compared with that in the first cycle. Displacement at allowable maximum loading, however, increased in each cycle with increase of number of cycles. To study the causes of the non-linear irreversible tensile behavior, the quartz fiber cable assembly was divided into two parts, i.e. straight segment and loop segment, and those were tested individually. The straight segment showed non-linear tensile behavior in the first cycle and residual displacement after unloading. In the following cycles, almost linear tensile behavior was observed and incremental displacement was not developed. By contrast, the loop segment showed non-linear tensile behavior in the first cycle and residual displacement after unloading. In the following cycles, non-linear tensile behavior was still observed. Incremental displacement was almost same level with that of the cable assembly. The segment tests identified the causes of the non-linear irreversible tensile behavior of the quartz fiber cable assembly under cyclic loading.
