Structural analysis of thermally induced stick-slip on deployable mast

Large space structures tend to be flexible because only a few dimensions become large while material properties become constant. For flexible structures, even minute disturbances affect the movement of the structure. For the sake of precise observation in space, large structures with stable dynamic properties are required to support sensors. The stability of the structures is affected by the thermal expansion caused by solar radiation. The purpose of this research is to verify the compatibility between numerical analyses and experimental results for a mast structure with thermally induced stick-slip phenomenon at friction sliding part. Radiation heating experiments for the mast structure, and numerical analyses using finite element method with several friction models at contact surface among parts in the mast were discussed. Three friction models are: (a) coulomb model, (b) simplified coulomb model, and (c) rising static friction model. Comparing each friction model, modeling on thermally induced stick-slip occurring in the space structure is studied. The coulomb model and the rising static friction model showed thermally induced stick-slip behavior. However, the simplified coulomb model did not show such behaviors. Finally, several methods were proposed to decrease the disturbance due to thermally induced stick-slip.