Thermal Robustness Assessment of a Rigidized Space Inflatable Boom via Experimental Modal Analysis and Finite Element Modeling

The following paper presents the results of a thermal robustness assessment of a rigidized space inflatable boom. Modal testing is performed at three different environmental temperatures; spanning a range of 38°C, with the purpose of characterizing dynamic behavior and assessing changes in bending frequencies. Experimental results show that the natural frequencies of the boom shift only marginally within the tested bandwidth. A finite element model is developed in parallel with experiments to determine compatibility with beam theory. The resulting simulation shows that linear beam theory can be used to predict bending frequencies and frequency response function magnitudes with very good accuracy.