Automatic Design and Optimization of a Satellite Structure Using Parametric CAD Modeling

Yunzhe Zhang, Jintin Frank, Markus Zimmermann

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

A satellite payload structure is to be designed to meet mechanical requirements, e.g., on its dynamic behavior. The design variables are the positions and thicknesses of stiffening ribs and panels. Due to the large number of design variables, experience-based design may lead to a suboptimal result. Therefore, parametric optimization is adopted. Automatic variation of the position of structural elements is not straightforward, as geometrical interfaces between them must be adapted. For fast assessment of many variants, an automatic design procedure is proposed that includes (1) a parametric CAD model that automatically updates the interfaces between structural elements, (2) a finite element-based assessment of the quantities of interests, and (3) a systematic analysis of the relation between design variables and quantities of interest based on design of experiments. The finite element model adopts tetrahedral solid elements. Solids are numerically more expensive than shell elements, and tetrahedral elements are known to be of low accuracy. However, automatic meshing is now possible to enable a full-scale DoE analysis on a level of sufficient geometric detail. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach, the primary and support structure of the so-called Wide Field Imager of the ATHENA space program is analyzed and design improvements are presented.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDesign in the Era of Industry 4.0, Volume 2 - Proceedings of ICoRD 2023
EditorsAmaresh Chakrabarti, Vishal Singh
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages841-852
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)9789819902637
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Event9th International Conference on Research into Design, ICoRD 2023 - Bangalore, India
Duration: 9 Jan 202311 Jan 2023

Publication series

NameSmart Innovation, Systems and Technologies
Volume342
ISSN (Print)2190-3018
ISSN (Electronic)2190-3026

Conference

Conference9th International Conference on Research into Design, ICoRD 2023
Country/TerritoryIndia
CityBangalore
Period9/01/2311/01/23

Keywords

  • Design assessment
  • Design of experiments
  • Finite element method
  • Parametric CAD
  • Satellite structure optimization

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