In May 2026, undergraduate and graduate students at Texas A&M University, as part of the NASA MIRO IDEAS² Center, advanced research on shape memory alloy (SMA)-actuated WAVETRUSS deployable structures through computational modeling and hands-on prototype development.
Students developed models of a WT-OctaSine pseudoelastic tower designed to change its configuration in response to thermal conditions. The team also investigated methods for improving structural stiffness by integrating fabric and membrane components into the WAVETRUSS system.
Prototype development progressed toward a membrane-integrated WAVETRUSS configuration, allowing the team to study how lightweight fabrics interact with the deployable structural system during actuation and deformation. The work combined structural simulation, smart-material actuation, fabrication, and experimental testing.
The research supports the development of lightweight and adaptive deployable structures that could be used in future space infrastructure, where compact stowage, low mass, and controlled deployment are important design considerations.