Study On Deployment Dynamic Simulation Of Space Inflatable Structures

Inflatable structures, a new kind of space structures, could solve the problems which are caused by the traditional mechanical design, such as high cost, heavy weight, large package volume, unreliable deployment, limited size. So it has been highly valued and vigorous developed by the aerospace institutions of the European and American countries, and applied in many fields of space exploration, becoming the trend of large aerospace facilities. Reliable deployment determines the successful use of space inflatable structures, thus study on it is essential and critical. However, lots of space flight experiments show that only using the ground experiment means to study the deployment is inaccurate. FEM simulation method must be applied to assist the experiment means. But studies on it have not started in China.This Paper utilizes the FEM technology to simulation the deployment of inflatable structures, building their finite element models and analyzing their dynamic processes. The main work is followed:(1) Solving the integral, coupling and contact problems synthetically by using the finite element analysis software MSC.Dytran, successfully simulating the deployment of inflatable structures. This method provides important reference and guidance to the analysis of various flexible inflatable structures.(2) Simulating the deployment of inflatable tubes, and discussing the influence of fold methods and deployment control mechanisms. Inflatable tube is not only the basic component part of inflatable structures, but also the effective simplified model of some flexible structures. Study on it has great significance.(3) Simulating the deployment of inflatable paraboloid reflector, discussing the influence of inflation rate, internal valve pressure, throw technique and the rigidity of the supporting system, and finally put forward some design suggestions. In this part, the simulation method is applied to the engineering practice, and the analysis results have reference function to other inflatable structures.