Solar sail with inflatable toroidal shell

TL;DR

This paper presents a mathematical model for deploying and stretching large circular solar sails attached to inflatable toroidal shells, demonstrating feasibility through analytical formulas and numerical calculations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to deploy large solar sails using inflatable toroidal shells, with derived stress formulas and vibration analysis.

Findings

Feasibility of deploying large solar sails with inflatable shells.

Analytical formulas for stress and strain under gas pressure.

Numerical simulations for 100 m radius sails.

Abstract

In the framework of a strict mathematical approach based on classical theory of elasticity we present an idea of the deployment and stretching of the circular solar sail attached to the inflatable toroidal shell. It is predicted that by introducing the gas into the inflatable toroidal shell one can deploy and stretch a large size circular solar sail membrane. The formulas for the toroidal shell and sail membrane stresses and strains caused by the gas pressure in the shell are derived. The analytical expressions can be applied to a wide range of solar sail sizes. Numerical calculations for the sail of radii up to 100 m made of CP1 membrane and attached to the toroidal shell with the varied cross-section radius are presented. The normal transverse vibration modes of the sail membrane under tension caused by gas pressure in the shell are calculated. The feasibility of deployment and stretching of a solar sail with a large size circular membrane attached to the inflatable toroidal shell is demonstrated.