Numerical and Experimental Study for a Beam System with Local Unilateral Contact Modeling Satellite Solar Arrays

TL;DR

This study combines numerical simulations and experimental validation to analyze the nonlinear dynamics of satellite solar array panels with unilateral contact modeling, aiming to prevent damage due to panel collisions.

Contribution

It introduces a finite element approach for modeling unilateral contact in satellite panels and validates it with experimental data, enhancing understanding of nonlinear panel dynamics.

Findings

Finite element model accurately predicts panel behavior.

Rubber snubbers effectively prevent panel collisions.

Experimental results confirm the model's validity.

Abstract

The mass reduction of satellite solar arrays results in significant panel flexibility, so possibly striking one another dynamically leading ultimately to structural damage. To prevent this, rubber snubbers are mounted at well chosen points of the structure and they act as one sided linear spring; as a negative consequence, the dynamic of these panels becomes nonlinear. The finite element approximation is used to solve partial differential equations governing the structural dynamic. The models are validated and adjusted with experiments done in the ISVR laboratory, Southampton university.