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ㆍ Product: Solar array

ㆍAnalysis Goal: Accurately predict the dynamics events in the life of a solar array, including spacecraft maneuvers

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Many recent spacecrafts require large, rollup solar arrays and need to undergo potentially significant maneuvers (or dynamic loading events) with the arrays deployed. There is an increased need to understand and control the nonlinear dynamics in the spacecraft system during such maneuvers. The nonlinear simulation of large structures can be challenging, therefore require multibody dynamics software, such as RecurDyn, that can model nonlinear flexible bodies and handle large motions. Another requirement is to be able to evaluate the effect of an active controller on the mechanical system.

Process

① 3 steps of simulation were used – Forming the Tube on the Mandrel, Rolling Up Tube, and Deploying the Tube

② A customized add-on application that automates the previous 3 steps was developed to reduce the time to create a solar array model

③ Using the RecurDyn Extract function, the result of the previous step became the initial condition of the next step, in order to reduce the overall simulation time

④ Simulation, including the active controller, was performed to reduce vibration-induced loading in the solar array structure to minimize overall loads. Another result of using the controller was that the solar array panel acted as if it were stiffer (a very desirable result)

Key Technologies for Analysis

ㆍ Multi Flexible Body Dynamics to properly represent the flexible bodies with large deformation and motion

ㆍ Uniform mesh was generated to minimize the numerical stress

ㆍ Integrated simulation of the mechanical system and the controller

Toolkits

ㆍRecurDyn/Professional

ㆍRecurDyn/FFlex

ㆍRecurDyn/CoLink

ㆍRecurDyn/ProcessNet

The Problems that Customers are Facing

• Physical testing of prototypes on earth with zero or micro-gravity can be difficult or impossible

• New mission requirements call for the use of computationally efficient models of nonlinear flexible bodies undergoing large displacements

• Need to simulate mechanical systems that include an active controller

• Efficient simulation software needed to support repetitive simulations needed for parameter studies

Solutions

• RecurDyn can model nonlinear flexible bodies and includes solution techniques that effciently handle large motions in a mechanical assembly

• RecurDyn provides a control simulation module, CoLink, which can model the controller with a block diagram and can simulate the controller together with the mechanical model using the RecurDyn integrated solver

• RecurDyn/ProcessNet provides an integrated development environment to create a customized UI using C# or Visual Basic to automate tedious procedures

Outcome

• Dynamic nonlinear behavior of the solar array was successfully reproduced

• Rollup/deployment model development became much easier with the new solar array vertical application

• Simulation results showed the dynamic behavior of the rollup solar array with nonlinear flexible bodies and active motion control options is better and safer

Other Application

◀ Active Control of Solar Array Dynamics During Spacecraft Maneuvers

ㆍSimulation of the Deployment of a Flexible Roll-Up Solar Array Using Multi-Body Dynamics Software

- Brant A. Ross and Nelson Woo, at 3rd AIAA Spacecraft Structures Conference

◀ Simulation of aerospace industry

ㆍLanding gear simulation

ㆍDeployment simulation of Satellite Solar Panel

ㆍLoad calculation of the main rotor blade of a helicopter

Related Webinar

[Webinar] NASA Deployable Space Structures using Flexible Multibody Dynamics