Satellites

From enabling global communication networks to monitoring climate change and supporting national security, the importance of satellites cannot be overstated. Designing these sophisticated machines to operate in the harsh operating environment of space however, poses a unique set of engineering challenges which simulation can help to overcome.

Surviving the Launch – Structural

When a satellite is attached to a rocket and launched into space, it experiences violent broadband vibration caused by rocket motors. These vibrations can cause structural failures in the satellite, rendering the satellite unfit for purpose once it gets to its orbit.

Finite element based vibration and fatigue analysis allows an engineer to simulate violent vibration profiles, usually in the form of power spectrum density, on the structural members of a satellite. This highlights weak points early in the design process.

Satellite with Solar Panel Modal Simulation

Solar Panel Assemblies

Must deploy reliably, with opening sequences controlled
Excessive displacement from attitude control events must be controlled
Withstand thermal cycle effects during lifecycle
Withstand shock/impact loads during launch
Understand system modes

Solar Panel Deployment

Surviving the Launch – PCB

When a satellite is attached to a rocket and launched into space, it experiences violent broadband vibration caused by rocket motors. These vibrations can cause PCB and electronic component failures in the satellite payload, rendering the satellite unfit for purpose once it gets to its orbit.

Simulation enables a physics-based electronics reliability analysis to be performed. A design tool that provides fast and accurate life predictions for electronic hardware at the component, board and system levels allows the engineer to fix issues early sin the design process.

Recently LEAP ran a webinar demonstrating how Ansys can help avoid unexpected PCB failures due to thermal, mechanical, and/or electrical stressors which we have made available on our Electromagnetics blog. Watch the recording and read the summary here.

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