Dynamic Response of Multi-point Continuous Impacts of Modular Space Deployable Antenna

Abstract

With the increasing of space activities around the world, the number of space debris has increased significantly, resulting in a prominent threat to the safe operation of spacecraft in orbit. Large diameter space deployable antennas may be damaged and fail due to multi-point continuous impacts of tiny space debris during orbit operation. In this paper, ANSYS/LS-DYNA finite element software is used to establish the impact numerical model of large aperture modular deployable antenna, simulate the dynamic response of the whole process of the continuous hypervelocity impact of tiny space debris at different positions at the same time after the antenna is deployed and locked. The cumulative damage and overall deformation of the structure impacted multiple were obtained, and the effect of debris particle size and impact velocity on the displacement of key antenna nodes, internal forces and impact kinetic energy of key rods were studied. The results show that the closer the impact point is to the centroid of the antenna structure, the larger the impact area is, and the most unfavorable impact position is at the farthest end of the constraint, where the damage of the connecting vertical rod and surrounding chords is aggravated; With the impact velocity increasing to hypervelocity speed of 10km/s, the impact range of the antenna decreases, the overall impact kinetic energy of the structure is smallest, and the cumulative damage of the antenna structure is rapid breakdown of the node, and the stress and kinetic energy have no time to transfer to the surrounding rods. The above results can provide a reference for the impact vulnerability analysis of space deployable antennas and the safety protection design of large aperture antennas.