4D printing for continuous fibers reinforced composites

4D printing structure can be applied to the truss or the solar sail of spacecraft. At present, most 4D printing structures often have poor structural stiffness and deformation accuracy. In this study, a 4D printing process based on the composites with embedded continuous fibers is proposed. Due to the different thermal expansion coefficient and elastic modulus of fiber and resin, the structure will produce bending deformation when the temperature changes. The influence of fiber trajectories on deformation curvature is calculated and simulated, and then, some complex structures have been prepared by 4D printing process. The 4D printing structure of continuous fiber composite has better mechanical properties and higher deformation accuracy.