Book Description

Finite element thermal-structural analyses of cable-stiffened space structures are presented. A computational scheme for calculation of prestresses in the cable-stiffened structures is also described. The determination of thermal loads on orbiting space structures due to environmental heating is described briefly. Three finite element structural analysis techniques are presented for the analysis of prestressed structures. Linear, stress stiffening and large displacement analysis techniques are investigated. The three techniques are employed for analysis of prestressed cable structures at different prestress levels. The analyses produce similar results at small prestress but at higher prestress, differences between the results become significant. For the cable-stiffened structures studied, the linear analysis technique may not provide acceptable results. The stress stiffening analysis technique may yield results of acceptable accuracy depending on the prestress. The large displacement analysis technique produces accurate results over a wide range of prestresses and is recommended as a general analysis technique for thermal-structural analysis of cable-stiffened space structures.