Dynamics Analysis of Deployable Structures considering a Two-Dimensional Coupled Thermo-Structural Effect

Abstract

The deployment accuracy of deployable structures is affected by temperature and flexibility. To obtain the higher accuracy, various measures such as the optimization design and the control process are employed, and they are all based on deployment dynamics characteristics of deployable structures. So a precise coupled thermo-structural deployment dynamics analysis is important and necessary. However, until now, only a one-dimensional thermal effect is considered in the literatures because of simplicity, which reduces the accuracy of the model. Therefore, in this paper, a new model coupling mechanical field with a temperature field is presented to analyze the deployment dynamics of a deployable structure with scissor-like elements (SLEs). The model is based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) and is established via a new locking-free beam element whose formulation is extended to account for the two-dimensional thermally induced stresses due to the heat expansion for the first time. Namely, in the formulation, the thermal influences are along two-dimensional directions, the axial direction and the transverse direction, rather than along a one-dimensional direction. The validity and precision of the proposed model are verified using a flexible pendulum example. Finally, the dynamics of a linear deployable structure with three SLEs modeled by the element is simulated under a temperature effect.

Modeling and Analysis of Flexible Deployable Structure with Scissor-Like Elements Using a Novel Non-Locking Beam Element

“…In terms of solving dynamic equations, considering the configuration characteristics and assembly methods of the scissor deployable structure, in order to dissipate the high frequency response while maintaining the low frequency response of the system, the simplified generalized  method is selected to solve the nonlinear dynamic problems of scissor deployable structures. Please refer to literature [29] for the specific solution process.…”

“…Luo et al [28] used the ANCF method to describe the large displacement and large deformation of variable length lanyards under the framework of Lagrangian-Euler multibody system. Peng et al [29] proposed a thermal flexible coupling dynamic analysis method for deployable structures considering the influence of temperature induced vibration caused by solar radiation flux on the deployment synchronization. At the same time, in order to obtain higher expansion accuracy, they proposed a novel coupling model of mechanical field and temperature field, and considered the two-dimensional thermal stress caused by thermal expansion.…”