Structural verification of the ESEO spacecraft: from launch loads analysis to composite panels verification

The present thesis work was performed in the frame of ESEO (European Student Earth Orbiter) project. The activities that are described in this document were carried out in the Microsatellites and Space Micro systems Lab led by Professor Paolo Tortora and in ALMASpace company facilities. The thesis deals with ESEO structural analysis, at system and unit level, and verification: after determining the design limit loads to be applied to the spacecraft as an envelope of different launchers load profiles, a finite element structural analysis was performed on the model of the satellite in order to ensure the capability to withstand the loads encountered during the launch; all the analyses were performed according to ESA standards and using the software MSC NASTRAN SIMXPERT. Amplification factors were derived and used to determine loads to be considered at unit level. In particular structural analyses were carried out on the GPS unit, the payload developed for ESEO by students of University of Bologna and results were used in the preparation of GPS payload design definition file. As for the verification phase a study on the panels and inserts to be used in the spacecraft was performed: different designs were created exploiting methods to optimize weight and mechanical behavior. The configurations have been analyzed and results compared to select the final design.

The effect of the ductility on the collapse loads: The failure of a steel roof

Studio dell'effetto della duttilità sul carico di collasso: il crollo di una copertura reticolare spaziale in acciaio causato dalla compresenza di un'ingente mancanza di resistenza e duttilità nei collegamenti delle aste e possibili stati coattivi. Il carico di collasso nel caso di strutture a bassa duttilità dipende dalla presenza di stati coattivi dovuti a imperfezioni di realizzazione o cedimenti vincolari della struttura in esercizio.