Buckling of Ultralight Ladder-type Coilable Space Structures

Royer, Fabien; Pellegrino, Sergio

doi:10.2514/6.2020-1437

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The finite-element simulation of packaging and deployment has been validated first for the case of a quasi-static deployment, where it was able to correctly predict the steady-state moment of the strip prototypes, but overpredicted the peak moments at the end of deployment, due to the sensitivity of the longerons to local variations of the flange radius and angle. The effects of such imperfections have been studied elsewhere [43]. The dynamic deployment simulations have correctly captured the folded configuration, and accurately predicted the evolution of the fold angles during deployment, with less than 5% error on the deployment time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Hence, it follows a higher-energy equilibrium path, which results in a higher peak moment. This difference in behavior is not surprising, as thin shell structures exhibit multiple energetically similar equilibrium paths [43], and the choice between different paths is very sensitive to small geometric imperfections in the structure. Therefore, because no imperfections were introduced in the simulation, the model follows the most symmetric equilibrium solution, which is not necessarily the lowest energy path.…”

Section: A Model Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Deployment Dynamics of Thin-Shell Space Structures

Pedivellano

Pellegrino

2022

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: A Model Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deployment Dynamics of Thin-Shell Space Structures

Pedivellano

Pellegrino

2022

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…This paper extends the experimental probing methodology, previously used for cylindrical and spherical shells, to more complex structures that are inspired by ultralight coilable space structures, recently developed by the Caltech Space Solar Power Project (SSPP) [29,30]. Previous analysis showed that local buckling plays a key role in these structures [31,32] and motivates the need for an experimental buckling characterization. Owing to the complexity of an actual SSPP structural component, as well as reproducing its actual load conditions, the present study focuses on the simpler structure studied analytically in [33] and loaded under pure bending.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Experimentally probing the stability of thin-shell structures under pure bending

Royer

Pellegrino

2023

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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This paper studies the stability of space structures consisting of longitudinal, open-section thin-shells transversely connected by thin rods subjected to a pure bending moment. Localization of deformation, which plays a paramount role in the nonlinear post-buckling regime of these structures and is extremely sensitive to imperfections, is investigated through probing experiments. As the structures are bent, a probe locally displaces the edge of the thin shells, creating local dimple imperfections. The range of moments for which the early buckling of the structures can be triggered by this perturbation is determined, as well as the energy barrier separating the pre-buckling and post-buckling states. The stability of the local buckling mode is then illustrated by a stability landscape, and probing is extended to the entire structure to reveal alternate buckling modes disconnected from the structure’s fundamental path. These results can be used to formulate efficient buckling criteria and pave the way to operating these structures close to their buckling limits, and even in their post-buckling regime, therefore significantly reducing their mass. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Probing and dynamics of shock sensitive shells’.

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“…The idea of 'probing' a structure using point forces is also being implemented numerically to explore the stability landscape of shell structures [16]. Royer & Pellegrino [24] used probing to investigate the buckling, post-buckling and imperfection sensitivity of ultralight ladder-type coilable space structures. Probing the structure using additional forces to interrogate the stability landscape extends the bifurcation analysis capabilities in existing commercial software packages.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%