# Design and simulation of a solar array deployment mechanism for a small satellite using implicit time-stepping

## TL;DR

This paper presents the design and simulation of a solar array deployment mechanism for small satellites, ensuring smooth and reliable deployment.

## Contribution

The work introduces a robust design and simulation approach for solar array deployment mechanisms using implicit time-stepping FEA.

## Key findings

- A solar array deployment mechanism was designed with reasonable deployment speed and smooth locking.
- Transient FEA with implicit time-stepping was used to verify the design and address convergence challenges.
- The methodology can be applied to other slow mechanisms with complex motions and contacts.

## Abstract

Solar Arrays (SA’s) of a satellite are typically folded within the launcher. After the satellite is inserted into its orbit, SA’s are unfolded (or deployed) and locked. The deployment is a critical operation as its failure translates to catastrophic satellite mission failure. Therefore, the design of the SA Deployment Mechanism (DM) must be robust. The design must additionally ensure smooth deployment and gentle locking not to damage the SA’s nor the satellite structure. This work demonstrates designing a SADM having reasonable deployment speed yet smooth locking. This design is verified by simulation using transient Finite Element Analysis (FEA) employing implicit time-stepping scheme. Deployment large rotations, complex contacts and rapid locking, however, caused challenging convergence difficulties. This work demonstrates design, optimization, simulation and difficulties overcoming for a typical SADM. This also extends to any relatively slow mechanism.