PROGRAM ASTEC (ADVANCED SOLAR TURBO ELECTRIC CONCEPT). PART IV. SOLAR COLLECTOR DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT TASKS. VOL. VI. DEVELOPMENT OF ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES TO PREDICT THE STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF PETAL-TYPE SOLAR COLLECTORS.
Abstract
The design of large petal-type paraboloidal solar collectors for the ASTEC Program requires a capability for determining the distortion and stress fields of thin shell structures under inertial, surface, and thermal loads. Results of a preliminary study to develop analytical methods for this structural analysis are presented. A set of general equations for an orthotropic elastic shell of revolution with small displacements and strains is given. These are used to develop an analysis of a complete parabolic shell with symmetric and nonsymmetric loads. Two digital programs for the numerical solution (finite difference) of this problem are presented, and an example which shows that when the circumferential stiffness is neglected, maximum displacements increase by a ratio of 5:1. This confirms the need for attachments between petals. A petal is described as a sector of a paraboloid of revolution; analyses are outlined for a 1-dimensional curved beam and a 2-dimensional sector composite petal based on the stiffness method. A static analysis of a parabolic curved beam is given along with a numerical solution and digital program. The dynamic response of the ASTEC flight-test vehicle is discussed on the basis of modal analysis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0480102
Entities
People
- C. W. Coale
- P. Stern
- W. R. Butler
- W. W. Hurtt
Organizations
- Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space