Satellite Structural Design Review Notes

Chapter 1 Literature Review

Abstract
  • Purpose: Review fundamental concepts in satellite design
    • Examine phases of structural design
    • Categorize structures
    • Discuss previous designs in satellite structures
    • Cover materials and methods for spacecraft design
    • Review structural optimization research
1.1 Structural Design Phases
  • Three Phases: Conceptual, Preliminary, Detailed
    • Conceptual Design
    • Assess feasibility, cost, and risk for spacecraft designs
    • Derive requirements and identify structure types
    • Develop initial designs for weight, cost, and risk analysis
    • Preliminary Design
    • Focus on best structural arrangements, shapes, and sizes
    • Select materials and design attachments
    • Begin manufacturing plans and testing strategies
    • Detailed Design
    • Finalize dimensions, tolerances, and fasteners
    • Conduct necessary analyses to justify design choices
    • Develop manufacturing processes and verification tests
  • Importance of Phases:
    • Errors in detailed design can lead to costly changes and mission failures
    • Preliminary documentation influences the success of detailed design
    • Conceptual design decisions strongly impact performance and cost
1.2 Categories of Structures
  • Three Structure Types: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
    • Primary Structure:
    • Major load-bearing path between spacecraft components and the launch vehicle
    • Includes the main body and launch vehicle adapter
    • Secondary Structure:
    • Comprises support beams, trusses, antenna dishes, and solar panels
    • Tertiary Structure:
    • Includes component housing, brackets, and connector panels
1.3 Previous Satellite Structures
  • Aerospace Structure Goals:
    • Prioritize lightweight designs that maximize strength-to-weight efficiency
  • Primary Structural Types:
    • Skin-frame structures:
    • Feature interior frames and external skin supporting shear forces
    • Truss structures:
    • Composed of members arranged in triangles to support only axial loads
    • Monocoque cylinders:
    • Shell structures with limited stiffness, effective for evenly distributed loads
    • Skin-stringer structures:
    • Circular configurations that require uniform skin attachments
  • Materials in Satellite Structures:
    • Metal Alloys:
    • Commonly aluminum, titanium, beryllium, and stainless steel
    • Advanced Composite Materials:
    • Include matrix and reinforcement for lightweight, strong structures
1.3.1 Conventional Structural Types
  • Key Types include:
    • Skin-frame structures:
    • Truss structures:
    • Monocoque cylinders:
    • Skin-stringer structures:
1.3.2 Materials
  • Metal Alloys:
    • Aluminum most common: High strength, lightweight, but prone to thermal expansion issues
    • Titanium used for high-strength needs; less machinable
    • Beryllium for stiffness; toxic dust concerns
  • Advanced Composites:
    • Include polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)
    • Create high strength with low weight
1.3.3 Methods of Attachment
  • Types:
    • Mechanical fasteners, welding, adhesive bonding
  • Considerations:
    • Material compatibility, joint strength, access for assembly/disassembly
1.4 Methods of Enhancing Structural Efficiency
  • Strategies:
    • Sandwich Structures:
    • Two face sheets with a lightweight core
    • Multifunctional Structures (MFS):
    • Combine multiple functions to reduce mass
    • Isogrid Structures:
    • Triangular cutouts for strength without added weight