Finite Element Thermal-Structural Analysis of Cable-Stiffened Space Structures

Abstract

Finite element thermal-structural analyses of cable-stiffened space structures are presented. A computational scheme for calculation of prestresses in the cable-stiffened structures is also described. The determination of thermal loads on orbiting space structures due to environmental heating is described briefly. Three finite element structural analysis techniques are presented for the analysis of prestressed structures. Linear, stress stiffening and large displacement analysis techniques are investigated. The three techniques are employed for analysis of prestressed cable structures at different prestress levels. The analyses produce similar results at small prestress but at higher prestress, differences between the results become significant. For the cable-stiffened structures studied, the linear analysis technique may not provide acceptable results. The stress stiffening analysis technique may yield results of acceptable accuracy depending on the prestress. The large displacement analysis technique produces accurate results over a wide range of prestresses and is recommended as a general analysis technique for thermal-structural analysis of cable-stiffened space structures. Additional keywords: Thermal stresses; Deflection; Stress strain relations; Equations; Stiffening; Cable support orbiting; Space structures.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA153822

Entities

People

  • Ajay K. Pandy
  • Earl A. Thornton

Organizations

  • Old Dominion University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Composite Materials
  • Differential Equations
  • Displacement
  • Earth Orbits
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Geometry
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Heat Transfer
  • Mechanics
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • Solar Radiation
  • Stiffening
  • Stress Strain Relations
  • Structural Analysis
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

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

Technology Areas

  • Space