SOLAR DIFFERENTIAL HEATING OF THIN WALL BOOMS IN NEAR EARTH ORBIT

摘要

Thin walled cylinders exposed to sunlight in space can develop a relatively large circumferential temperature gradient, which in turn gives rise to relatively large thermoplastic stresses in the cylinder wall.nBefore any rigorous structural analysis can be undertaken, a thorough knowledge of the temperature gradients to be expected for the various configurations under consideration is necessary.nThis report presents the analysis and results obtained to date, of thin walled cylinders in near earth orbit.