Vibration Characteristics and Thermal Structural Dynamic Responses of a Flexible Rolled-up Solar Array

Abstract

Analytical studies of the natural vibration characteristics and dynamic response for a simple model of an asymmetric flexible rolled-up solar array are presented. A natural vibration analysis of the solar array model including bendingtorsion coupling due to geometric asymmetry provides natural frequencies and mode shapes. Unusual features of the lower mode frequencies and mode shapes are discussed. The dynamic response of the solar array induced by sudden radiation heating for a typical night-day orbital transition is formulated. Additionally, numerical calculations are conducted for the solar array of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Variations of the dynamic response with the axial preload forces of the solar array booms are examined, and the vibration response due to the radiation heating of the HST solar array is discussed.

Experimental Verification of Thermal Structural Responses of a Flexible Rolled-Up Solar Array

“…The frequency responses of the theoretical results show two prominent frequencies at 0.7129 and 0.7715 Hz, while the frequency responses of the experimental results show one prominent frequency at 0.8594 Hz. Furthermore, through theoretical natural frequency analysis 8) using the same analysis model, we obtained natural frequencies for the first and second mode of 0.7134 and 0.7690 Hz. Comparing the first and second mode frequencies via FFT analysis of the theoretical results to those of the theoretical natural frequency analysis, 8) there is an error of approximately 0.01%.…”

“…Furthermore, through theoretical natural frequency analysis 8) using the same analysis model, we obtained natural frequencies for the first and second mode of 0.7134 and 0.7690 Hz. Comparing the first and second mode frequencies via FFT analysis of the theoretical results to those of the theoretical natural frequency analysis, 8) there is an error of approximately 0.01%. In addition, the average axial compressive force is lower than 1.58 N, and we know, through the natural frequency analysis, 8) that the first mode is dominated by buckling while the second mode is dominated by torsion.…”

“…Comparing the first and second mode frequencies via FFT analysis of the theoretical results to those of the theoretical natural frequency analysis, 8) there is an error of approximately 0.01%. In addition, the average axial compressive force is lower than 1.58 N, and we know, through the natural frequency analysis, 8) that the first mode is dominated by buckling while the second mode is dominated by torsion. Therefore, the prominent frequency of 0.8594 Hz shown in Fig.…”

“…8). If it is assumed that the thermally induced dynamic response can be expressed as the sum of the quasi-static deformation of the solar array and the vibrations about the quasi-static deformations, then we obtain the non-homogeneous equation and the homogeneous boundary conditions for the vibration response as follows.…”