Parametric Studies on Damper for Solar Array Deployment Mechanism

摘要

Deployment of appendages is a mission critical activity. The appendages get the deployment energy from preloaded springs mounted at the hinges. To ensure deployment, a minimum spring margin of 1 is provided while designing the springs. This would result in an increased latch up velocity for the deploying appendage leading to higher latch up shock loads. A damper is used in a deployment mechanism to bring down the latch up velocity within acceptable limits.rnAn eddy current damper is used on the solar array deployment mechanism. The damping rate offered by the damper is directly proportional to the angular velocity of its rotating disc, which in turn is dependent on the payout velocity of the wire rope. The location of the damper relative to the anchor point of the wire rope determines the payout velocity. The damping rate is influenced by the properties like magnetic flux density, the thickness of the disc etc. This paper presents the influence of variations in damper parameters on the deployment dynamics of the solar array.