Structural integrity of spacecraft structures subject to motion, thermo-structural dynamics and environmental effects - An overview

• Published in: Acta astronautica 2024-09, Vol.222, p.219-243
• Main Author: Djojodihardjo, Harijono
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustic structure interaction; On-orbit space environment; Spacecraft; Structural dynamics; Structural integrity; Vibro-acoustics
• ISSN: 0094-5765; 1879-2030
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2024.05.034

The series of celebrated and grand accomplishments and progress of mankind in space exploration make people more intelligent, quixotic, imaginative, creative and realistic. Also, these imply vision for the future, further exploration and taking advantage of the Universe, for human benefits and sustainability, gaining scientific knowledge and developing engineering structures to that end. The most modern Earth and Universe observation spacecraft to date are now equipped with large lightweight and flexible structures, such as antennas, telescopes, and extendable elements, including the incorporation of more complex and larger appendages with high precision for scientific applications. These demand more stringent structural integrity requirements to minimize performance degradation due to structural damages. In addition, spacecraft structures weight and their associated manufacturing costs should be minimized, most appropriate materials should be utilized, assembly costs should be reduced and fewer parts should be opted, or one-piece more complex configuration parts should be produced. Various sensors, actuators and control technology could be employed to reduce structural damage. Associated with these, appropriate sensors configuration and strategies for their deployment are required to accurately detect failures in the most critical areas of the structure. Spacecraft structural integrity is subject to a series of prevailing loading due to thermo-structural dynamics and environmental effects from design, manufacturing, launching and operation during their pathways to meet a multitude of objectives under a myriad of requirements and constraints. To that end, the objective of the present paper is to provide an overview on spacecraft structural integrity covering a host of selected concepts, design, methods and engineering to maintain structural integrity of space vehicles and associated sub-structures. In spite of citing examples drawn from small satellite situations under vibro-acoustic and environmental thermal loading, the overriding issues addressed could be extended to more general situations. An infographic is presented to map out the state of affairs to be addressed for structural integrity considerations. [Display omitted] The present paper is to provide an overview on spacecraft structural integrity covering a host of selected concepts, design, methods and engineering to maintain structural integrity of space vehicles and associated sub-structures, su