Multi-objective optimization of deployable composite cylindrical thin-walled hinges with progressive damage

Abstract

The deployable composite cylindrical thin-walled (DCCTW) hinges have application prospects as deployable structures of satellite and solar array, but the mechanical characteristics of the DCCTW hinges have not been considered comprehensively. Taking progressive damage into consideration, the mechanical properties of DCCTW hinges have been reassessed, and a new optimal design method is presented in this paper. Firstly, a simplified model of DCCTW hinge was established. Both analytical and numerical analyses of the simplified model have been conducted. Secondly, the finite element (FE) method has been used to analyze the folding and torsional behavior of DCCTW hinge based on progressive damage theory. Thirdly, design of experiment (DOE) has been carried out using optimal Latin hypercube sampling method. The surrogate model has been established based on the DOE process and elliptical basis functions (EBF). Sensitivity analysis of mass, peak moment of folding, torsional failure angle, and peak moment of torsion have been conducted. Lastly, considering lightweight, the higher peak moment of folding and torsion, the optimization was implemented by multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm, two different optimal designs of DCCTW hinge have been obtained at the same time. The maximum relative error between FE analysis results and optimal design results with the surrogate model is 7.46%, which also reflects the accuracy of the surrogate model. The proposed optimization method can be applied to optimize other composite flexible hinges in consideration of progressive damage.