Determination of Deformation in Mesh Composite Structure Under the Action of Compressive Loads

Abstract

One of the significant innovative technologies is the creation of large-sized structures that work for a long time in space and meet stringent restrictions on overall mass characteristics. Among these structures, in the first place, is the section of bearing truss (BT). This article presents the results of experimental studies of sectors of load-bearing trusses of mesh design for compression. Recently, composite mesh cylindrical shells are used as spacecraft housings. The mesh shell is a supporting structure to which the instruments and mechanisms of the spacecraft are attached. The truss section is made of cross-linked polymer composite material with carbon fibers. The objective of the tests is to confirm the possibility of creating a lightweight mesh construction using a carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite material. To achieve this goal, the authors were assigned the following tasks: selection of carbon filler of polymer composite materials (PCM); selection of PCM binder; determination of the degree of carbon fiber reinforcement; choice of the number and orientation paths of spiral ribs, number of ring ribs and the sizes of individual ribs. As a result of the research, the calculated indicators for ensuring the bearing capacity and stiffness under the application of axial compressive load were obtained. At the same time, with the determination of bearing capacity, the deformation characteristics of the structure were twice determined in order to confirm their repeatability, as well as linear nature of the dependence of axial and radial deformations as a result of the applied load.