Dimensional stability is an important performance parameter for many space structures. The concept of 'antidistortion appliques' was developed for minimizing thermally induced dimensional instability. The concept involves adding material to offset and eliminate measured instabilities. A computational framework was developed that uses experimental data characterizing the adverse thermal distortions. The computations include a finite element model that embodies the idealized thermoelastic properties of the structure in conjunction with optimization software that drives iterations of the characteristics ofthe antidistortion appliques within the finite element model. In a modeling only study, it was predicted that distortions could be reduced in some cases by more than 90%. In the combined experimental/computational study, the models predicted a 62% reduction in the objective function that characterized the adverse distortions, whereas the experiment that used the applique design generated by the analysis recorded a 78% reduction- The difference can be attributed to several factors. Adjustment of material properties due to manufacturing variations are routinely needed to correlate analytical predictions to match experiment results. Inherently thermal elastic distortion measurements require some level of data adjustment due to the problem of maintaining a reference, which, in itself, does not change shape due to thermal changes.
Approach for increasing the static dimensional stability of composite space structures
Verfahren zur Erhöhung der statischen dimensionalen Stabilität von Raumfahrt-Verbundstrukturen
AIAA Journal ; 47 , 4 ; 1005-1013
2009
9 Seiten, 15 Bilder, 3 Tabellen, 15 Quellen
Article (Journal)
English
Approach for Increasing the Static Dimensional Stability of Composite Space Structures
Online Contents | 2009
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