RELIABLE NUMERICAL APPROACH FOR A DESIGN OF AN INFLATABLE MOON/MARS HABITATBASED ON MATERIAL TESTS IN THE SAS SIMULATOR

摘要

Inflatable structures provide a solution to reduce thecosts associated with design, fabrication and launch ofan orbit, Moon or Mars habitat while simultaneouslyincreasing the volume at disposal to the crew. Thisresearch focuses on the design of an inflatable habbased on a non-linear analysis numerical code SamtechMecano that will test the deployment and structuralcharacteristics of an inflatable habitat and includesASTM mechanical tests, UV and IR radiation tests onthe materials which compose its multi-layer structure.The multi-layer laminate is divided in two parts: theinner layers are the so called 'pneumatic retention'layers and their duty is to keep the air leakage in safeparameters and capable to resist at one atmospherepressure. The outer layers provide a space debris andmicrometeoroids shielding and thermal protectionsystem. The materials were selected from severalcandidates like for the multi-layer pneumatic retentionpart are polymer sheets, ortho-fabrics and elastomerslike urethane coated Mylar sheets, Nylon ripstop, coatedKevlar fabric and Zylon fabric. The materials used forthe shielding and thermal protection layers are Nextel,Kevlar and Zylon fabric. This paper includes also themodelling of the mechanical properties for thenumerical code's material data library. Once inflated werealized which and what kind of materials are bestsuited for these structures concerning the pressure andmechanical resistance aspect. The information acquiredfrom the simulation aims also on the deploymentattitude of the inflatable hab and gives us the clues toimprove the geometry characterization for a stable andmore reliable inflation. The protection layers will bealso tested by the numerical code AUTODYN in orderto create the most feasible configuration. The goal ofthis research is to acknowledge and study a suitablegeometry and choose an appropriate combination ofmaterials for an experimental future model that will betested in our Space Environment Simulator and in ourMars Environment Simulator.