Abstract
The modal characteristics of large skeletal structures (LSS) made from tubes of graphite reinforced Poly (Ether Sulphone) (PES), a high technology thermoplastic composite material, have been investigated. These large skeletal structures are intended for application in land-mobile communications networks and would be positioned at geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO). Experimental modal surveys of a number of skeletal configurations have been conducted under simulated unrestrained conditions, and have involved the prior commissioning of the modal survey apparatus used in their examination. The surveys have been performed in tandem with analogous natural frequency extractions from the structures' analytical models using the finite element (FE) method. The skeletal structures were fabricated using either the graphite reinforced PES material or perspex plastic, and formed representative sub-structures of candidate LSS configurations. The structures' geometries ranged in complexity from sparsely configured composite systems to a perspex platform-based bank of reflector arrays, and allowed the evolution of both local and global modal behaviour in these skeletal systems to be observed in detail. It has been found that the modal behaviour of predominantly uniaxially reinforced PES composite, in the state of uniaxial stress to which it will be subjected as a component of multi-bay LSS configurations, can be accurately described using an isotropic approximation for its material characteristics. Additionally, it has been found that the use of perspex plastic as a material for modelling representative multi-bay sub-structures of composite LSS is justified in consideration of the eventual stress environments to which the composite material will be subjected in LSS systems. Following this, a series of analytical parametric studies has been performed on a number of concept composite LSS suitable for use in a data-relay capacity at GEO. It has been found that the modal frequencies developed by these configurations are comparable to the published frequencies of similar skeletal structures intended for use at these orbits. It has also been established that the testing of a reduced modelling of the LSS can be highly instructive as to the general trends in modal behaviour developed by the large skeletal structures in orbit.