Adaptive Structures for Precision Controlled Large Space Systems

Abstract

Future space missions, such as Optical Interferometers and Space Telescopes place very stringent functional requirements upon the structural sub-system. Current approaches to structural design, analysis, and testing cannot assure project man agers that such systems will meet the dimensional stability requirements of nanometers over tens of meters or more. The concept of adaptive structures, structures that can vary their geometric configurations as well as their physical characteristics, is most promising for meeting the requirements of future missions. Adaptive structures are intended to relax ground test requirements, to enable static shape adjustment, to provide a mechanism for linearizing the structure by preloading nonlinear joints, to provide the required excitation forces for performing on-orbit system identification, and to attenuate dynamic response by substantially increasing passive and active structural damping.