Contact Dynamics on Net Capturing of Tumbling Space Debris

Shan, Minghe; Guo, Jian; Gill, Eberhard

doi:10.2514/1.g003460

Cited by 23 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(21 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Whereas the lumped mass model was concluded to be less accurate than the ANCF, the model was still validated using a parabolic net deployment experiment with 15% bounded average relative error for a coarse mesh. Furthermore, it was found to be more efficient, presenting a 15 times better computational efficiency than the ANCF model [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generation of Secondary Space Debris Risks from Net Capturing in Active Space Debris Removal Missions

Cuadrat-Grzybowski,

Gill

2024

Aerospace

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mitigation strategies to eliminate existing space debris, such as with Active Space Debris Removal (ASDR) missions, have become increasingly important. Among the considered ASDR approaches, one involves using a net as a capturing mechanism. A fundamental requirement for any ASDR mission is that the capture process itself should not give rise to new space debris. However, in simulations of net capturing, the potential for structural breaking is often overlooked. A discrete Multi-Spring-Damper net model was employed to simulate the impact of a 30 m × 30 m net travelling at 20 m/s onto an ESA Envisat mock-up. The Envisat was modelled as a two-rigid-body system comprised of the main body and a large solar array with a hinge connection. The analysis revealed that more than two significant substructures had a notable likelihood of breaking, prompting the recommendation of limiting the impacting velocity. The generation of secondary space debris indicates that net capturing is riskier than previously assumed in the literature.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generation of Secondary Space Debris Risks from Net Capturing in Active Space Debris Removal Missions

Cuadrat-Grzybowski,

Gill

2024

Aerospace

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…To consider realistic scenarios, the misalignment tolerance between the net ejection direction and the direction to the center of the debris was investigated 17) and simulations of debris capture under tumbling conditions were carried out. 18) Ru et al 19) compared capabilities of various methods for modelling net systems, being alternative to the traditional mass-spring-damper models. One of them is the "absolute nodal coordinates formulation (ANCF)," used by Shan et al 20) It was shown that the ANCF model was able to describe the flexibility of the net, while preventing penetration of the cables into the target.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Dynamic Stresses in the Elastic Nets for Space Debris Capture

Trivailo

Kojima

2023

Trans. Japan Soc. Aero. S Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper explores the feasibility of using elastic nets for active capture of space debris. We present a systematic analysis of the strains and stresses in the ejected flying nets during various cases of impact with spacecraft models. The main objective of the paper is development of the method of interaction between the edged spacecraft structures and elastic nets. A finite element method featuring numerical simulation capabilities is utilized to simulate the elastic nets. This enables the modeling of various stages of interaction between the satellite models and the capturing nets. These include a rigid body being wrapped by the net, sliding of the net along the edges, crawling of the net over the corners, and debris escaping from the "missing" corners of the net. This paper focuses on simulating successful captures; however, our simulations also include analysis of representative scenarios of unsuccessful attempted captures, where capturing targets were "bounced" by the nets and where targeted objects managed to "escape" or "fly through" the elastic nets (with cases, not involving rupture of the net segments) during high-speed impacts. Dynamic forces, strains, and stresses are analyzed for various geometrical nets and recommendations are formulated for the most efficient configurations.

show abstract