Strain-based displacement estimation for precision spacecraft structures

摘要

For precision spacecraft structures used for antennas and reflectors of telescopes, determination of in-orbit structural displacement and its control is very important. While this kind of measurement is relatively easy to carry out in a laboratory setting, it can be problematic in a real world environment. A procedure for the real-time determination of displacements at any point of a vibrating body can be utilized by measuring strain that is present. The procedure could employ measurement devices like Fiber Bragg Gratings, which are capable of very fine strain measurements. This thesis presents the finite element analysis of a truss similar to the NPS Space truss to observe the behavior of the strain relative to the displacement. A relationship between strain and displacement for the truss is derived.