Rapid Acoustic-vibration Modelling Methods of Solar Arrays in Satellites

Abstract

Large components outside satellite body are extremely sensitive to the sound field. As the entire satellite acoustic-vibration (hereinafter referred to as acoustic) model is very complex, computationally intensive and time-consuming, the feasibility of only modelling these large components when they are just concerned deserves to be investigated. In this paper, an entire satellite model, a finite element (FE) model a statistical energy analysis (SEA) model of the solar array were firstly established, and then their results and time needed were compared in order to explore the fastest and most efficient modelling method of large components outside satellite body. The results demonstrate that modelling only solar array not the entire satellite is feasible when only it is concerned. The FE model of solar array should be used if the responses at each point are necessary, while the SEA model is recommended if not.