ABSTRACT
The chapter describes the comparison studies of CHEM structures with other space deployable structures. In several investigations, the CHEM self-deployable structures were compared with presently used electromechanically deployable and inflatable structures. The studies indicated the CHEM structure is superior when compared with presently used deployable structures and has much lower mass and stowage volume, higher reliability, lower cost, higher simplicity, no deployment nor inflation subsystem, better surface quality, impact resistance and dynamic damping, clean deployment/rigidization, no stowage effects and easier fabrication.
