Homogenization Modeling of Periodically Wrapped String-Harnessed Beam Structures: Experimental Validation

摘要

High-flexibility, small-mass, and high-bandwidth controllers required for inflatable space missions need quite accurate models to predict higher-order dynamics of these structures. Some major components often ignored in dynamic analysis of space structures that result in model inaccuracies are space flight cables. The cables-to-payload-mass ratio can be about 20% in a traditional space structure; this number can increase significantly for inflatable structures due to their extremely light weights. As such, these cables can have significant impacts on the structural dynamics. The presented paper considers string-harnessed beam structures as a way to study the mass and stiffness effects of these cables. As a preliminary step, damping is ignored in the presented models. A homogenization technique is applied to develop the governing partial differential equation for the transverse bending coordinate of vibration of the string-harnessed beam structures. A periodic wrapping pattern is considered for the string throughout this paper. The frequency response functions for the continuum model are then compared to the experimental results, for which strong agreements are observed.