CubeSat Structural

Modeling and Control

Simulations
Terence Brauneis
Swati Mohan
CubeSat Project Overview
 Objective
 To design, build, test, and operate two fully
functional 10cm CubeSats
 Purpose
 Toperform GPS scintillation science in Low
Earth Orbit
 Systems Engineering Approach
Outline
 I-DEAS
 Structural
Modeling
 TMG Thermal Analysis

 ANSYS Finite Element Analysis

 Freeflyer Orbital Simulation
 MATLAB
 ADCS Design overview
 Control Simulations

 Curriculum implementations
 Recommendations
Why I-DEAS?
 Combination of 3D
modeling and TMG
Thermal analysis
 Easy to learn
 Intuitive,Self teaching,
learn by doing
 User friendly interface
 Expansive online help
library and tutorials
I-DEAS Expansive Help Library
Online Tutorials
Work Side-by-Side
Master Modeler
 Where initial design
concepts are developed
 Mass properties
calculations
 Moments of Inertia
 Center of gravity
 Interferencechecking
 Assembly modeling
 2D drafting
TMG Thermal Analysis
 “Comprehensive heat transfer simulation
package which provides fast and accurate
solutions to complex thermal problems”
 Easy to model nonlinear and transient
heat transfer processes using advanced
finite difference control volume technology
Using TMG to Model CubeSat
 Model and Mesh parts
 Either import from
structural model or create
simplified version
 Input orbital parameters
and boundary conditions
 Radiation on outside
surfaces, conduction inside
 Include thermal couplings
between parts that
physically touch
 Skin temperature ranges
from -29oC to 16oC
 ANSYS: Finite Element Analysis
 Could have used IDEAS
again, but ANSYS is used
in curriculum
 Online tutorials exist, but
only for the most basic
functions
 Can import model directly
from IDEAS with proper
license
 Could compare results
from both programs
ANSYS: Results
 Yield strength =
505MPa
 Max stress located @
connections = 7.39MPa
 Conclusion: Structure
is robust, but it is
difficult to reduce mass
further
 Future work: Vibration
analysis to simulate
launch environment
Freeflyer
 Orbital Simulation package
 Applications to CubeSat:
 Extractsolar position information for Power
generation
 Determine Communications window
occurrences and duration
 Simulation package specific to space
operations
 Self– taught, but not too difficult to learn
 Not needed to integrate into basic curriculum
Screen Shot of Satellite over Ithaca Ground Station
Screen Shot of Satellite over Ithaca Ground Station
Attitude Determination and Control
 Previous Design:
 Passive Aerodynamic
stabilization
 Active 3 axis control
 PID Control Law
 Current Design:
 Passive Gravity Previous Design
Gradient stabilization
 Active 3 axis damping
Current Design
 PD Control Law
 MATLAB Simulations
ADCS Control Law
 Earth Magnetic Field Model
 IGRF 2000 Field Model for Gaussian coefficients
 Three dimensional space (vector space)
 Nested for loops
 Recursive initialization
 Control Law
 Propagator
Inputs
 Magnetometer sensor input
 Pulse Width modulation
 Timing for torque coil output
Simulation
 Used to test
Control Law
 Simulates
disturbance
torques
 Solar pressure
 Gravity gradient
 Plots settling
history 500 km Altitude Attitude history
Use of MATLAB
 Simple to learn, with great versatility
 Quick simulations and testing through Command window
 Extensive help libraries
 Engineering computing facilities have licensed copies
 Widely used throughout curriculum
 Class Applications
 CS 100M – Introduction to Computer Programming
 TAM 203 – Dynamics
 MAE 305 – Introduction to Aeronautics
 MAE 326 – System Dynamics
 MAE 478 – Feedback Control Systems
 MAE 479 – Modeling and Simulation of Mech./Aero. Systems
 MAE 507 – Dynamics of Flight Vehicles
Use of IDEAS and ANSYS
 I-DEAS
 Entirelyself taught
 Widely used in industry
 Used by selected project teams
 ANSYS
 MAE 470/570 – Finite Element Analysis
 ½ semester dedicated to teaching ANSYS for purposes of a
final design project
 Free student versions of software provided by
Swanson
 Engineering computing facilities have licensed copies
Recommendations
 MATLAB
 Tailoruse to situations where MATLAB has a benefit
over other programs
 Minimize use in exclusively teaching scenarios
 I-DEAS
 Incorporate into curriculum
 More relevant software for modeling than IronCad

 ANSYS
 Begin exposure earlier in curriculum
 Incorporate into more undergraduate classes
 ex. MAE 212, MAE 325
 Make finite element analysis a requirement