AS3015 Spacecraft Structures Syllabus:

AS3015 Spacecraft Structures Syllabus – Anna University Regulation 2021

OBJECTIVES:

• The course gives an exposure to the Spacecraft structural requirements.
• To learn concepts of Structural configuration and trade-offs
• To understand types of environmental loading during launch
• To understand the factors to consider in material selection and types of structural tests
• To design a spacecraft structure

UNIT I SPACECRAFT DESIGN LOADS

Transportation load factors – Steady-State Loads – Mechanical Dynamic loads – Acoustic loads – Shock loads – Static pressure variations – Micro-meteorites / Orbital Debris.

UNIT II DESIGN OF SPACECRAFT STRUCTURE

Introduction – Determination of Spacecraft Configuration – First Design Spacecraft Structure – Basic Design Supporting Structure – Detailed Analyses – Manufacturing of the spacecraft structure.

UNIT III SPACECRAFT MASS AND MODAL EFFECTIVE MASS

Introduction – Structure Mass – Total Mass Calculation – Enforced Acceleration – Modal Effective Masses of an MDOF System.

UNIT IV FATIGUE LIFE PREDICTION

Introduction – Palmgren-Miner Linear Cumulative Damage Rule – Analysis of Load-time Histories – Failure due to Sinusoidal Vibrations – Failure due to Narrow-banded Random Vibrations.

UNIT V DAMAGE TO SPACECRAFT BY METEOROIDS AND ORBITAL DEBRIS

Introduction – Micro-Meteoroids and Space Debris Environment – Micro-Meteoroids Environment – Orbital debris Environment – Hyper Velocity Impact Damage Models – Single Plate Penetration Equations – Multi-shock shield – Probability of Impacts.

TOTAL: 45 PERIODS

OUTCOMES:

On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to
• Identify simplifying assumptions and applicability of 1 structural element theories.
• Solve by hand simple 1-D axial deformation, torsion, and bending problems.
• Solve more complex structural mechanics problems using commercial finite element software.
• Solve simple discrete degree of freedom structural stability problems.
• Solve simple structural dynamics problems.

TEXT BOOKS:

1. Thomas P. Sarafin, Wiley J. Larson, “Spacecraft Structures and Mechanisms: From Concept to Launch”, Springer Netherlands, 1995.
2. Wijker J.J., “Spacecraft Structures”, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2008.

REFERENCES:

1. Carl C. Osgood, “Spacecraft Structures”, Prentice-Hall, 1966.
2. Junqiao Xiong, “Spacecraft Structures, Materials and Mechanical Testing”, Trans Tech Publication, 2013.