Structures

What are Stuctures?

The functions of the structural subsystem are to enclose, protect and support the other spacecraft subsystems and to provide a mechanical interface with the launch vehicle. The enclose and protect functions are especially necessary during spacecraft, assembly, handling and transportation. Almost all structural supports in aerospace are made from aluminum and or titanium.

Sheet Stringer Construction

Stringer sheets are sheet metal parts with ribs. A process chain consisting of laser welding and subsequent forming allows the productive manufacturing of spatially curved stringer sheets. Compressive strains in concave curvatures can cause buckling of the stringers and define a process limit.

Waffle Construction

A waffle slab or two-way joist slab is an aluminum slab reinforced with titanium ribs running in two directions on its underside. The name waffle comes from the grid pattern created by the reinforcing ribs.

Sandwich Panel with Hexagonal Cell Core

Sandwich Panels with cellular cores are widely used in the aerospace industry for their higher stiffness to mass, strength to mass ratio, and excellent energy absorption capability. It consists of a hexagonal cell core made of titanium pressed between layered sheets of aluminum foil.

Why is it Important?

The subsystem for structures doesn’t seem too complex when you first think about it, but it is filled with intricate design. It connects all the little tiny pieces together and stabilizes it all while 180 dB rings out with violent shaking. This sub-system is linked to the payload, propulsion, guidance, Mechanisms, and avionic systems. In the Payload, it holds control systems, our orbital satellite, and our lander. It is structurally supported by sandwich panels with hexagonal cell cores because of its durability, easy integration and strength . The propulsion system is connected with the structure system because it holds the power plant, combustion chamber, and the containment of the system and launch vehicle. This is all held together by a launch mount as it prepares for launch. The guidance system within the rocket is supported by the same sandwich panels and fairings. The sensors used for guidance have to be precise and bolted on for space with a close connection between mechanisms. The structure subsystem is even found on the lander and orbital satellite from its chassis for both. From the fuel tanks to the drill shaft all have to be stable for their mission. All in all the structure subsystem is a necessary one because of how much it supports the whole mission and its subsystems.

Trade Study

With the trade study of Structures it is comparing sheet stringer construction, Waffle construction and sandwich panel with hexagonal cell core. With the highest rated weight being strength at 35% because if it is not strong enough for space flight, the problems are immense. The team struggled with deciding between the sheet stringer and the sandwich panels because both are commonly used in aerospace. The lowest rated being appearance at 3% because it has little to no effect on how it launches. The sandwich panel design is the most used in the aerospace industry because of its reduced weight, strength, and its ability to absorb energy during accidental impacts.

Subsystem Diagram

The diagram above shows an atlas V rocket and the components on it. We used a reference Image of the rocket and traced a rough image of what we wanted the design to look like with a website called Ibis Paint X. We edited the payload fairing to fit our lander and orbital satellite and got rid of the satellite that was in the original Atlas V image. The atlas V consists of two different kinds of engines, the RD-180 Engine, and the RL10-1 Engine. The RD-180 is the main engine which will put us into orbit. After the first separation the RL10-1 blasts off pushing the payload to Enceladus.

Lander stuctures

The Enceladus lander will be 7 1/2 meters tall, and 10 meters in width and length. it consists of landing gear, deployable parachutes, and airbags for stablizing during landing. It will be built out of aluminum foil stacked up with thin layers of kevlar between each layer for added protection and support. It'll be made using the sandwich panels technique.

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