Abstract
A solar power sail demonstrator IKAROS, which was launched in 2010, could accelerate and decelerate by receiving solar radiation pressure to its membrane surface in outer space. However, the membrane surface becomes uneven easily, because the membrane is very thin. The unevenness causes swirling motion, changing the spin rate and deterioration of the power conversion efficiency. In this study, we proposed a shoelace structure to solve this problem. Effect of a shoelace structure for connecting divided sails on stress fields of sails was analyzed by using ABAQUS. Experimental design using orthogonal table revealed the conditions for reducing the compressive stress. In addition, optimal angle in consideration of the interaction has been derived.
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