Development of a Dynamic Finite Element Model for Unrestrained Flexible Structures.

Abstract

An efficient finite element model and solution technique have been developed for the analysis of unrestrained flexible structures undergoing large elastic deformations coupled with gross nonsteady translational and rotational motions with respect to an inertial reference frame. The nonlinear coupled differential equations resulting from the finite element approximation are integrated timewise using an implicit-explicit split operator numerical integration scheme which treats the stability sensitive terms of the equation implicitly while the rest of the equation is treated explicitly. The motion of simple spacecraft structures consisting of flexible beams attached to rigid masses and including the effect of control forces has been studied using three-node eighteen-degree-of-freedom three dimensional beam elements based on the total Lagrangian description. Additional keywords: Space structures; Equations of motion; Stiffness matrix; Flexible spacecraft. (Author).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA151176

Entities

People

  • E.R. Christensen
  • Seh Wook Lee

Organizations

  • University of Maryland

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Angular Momentum
  • Birds
  • Centrifugal Force
  • Differential Equations
  • Engineering
  • Equations
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Euler Angles
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Flexible Structures
  • Geometry
  • Linear Momentum
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • Moment Of Inertia
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Three Dimensional

Readers

  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Structural Dynamics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers