Finite Element Analysis for Satellite Structures ― Applications to Their Design, Manufacture and Testing

Designing satellite structures poses an ongoing challenge as the interaction between analysis, experimental testing, and manufacturing phases is underdeveloped. Finite Element Analysis for Satellite Structures: Applications to Their Design, Manufacture and Testing explains the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to perform design of satellite structures. By layering detailed practical discussions with fully developed examples, Finite Element Analysis for Satellite Structures: Applications to Their Design, Manufacture and Testing provides the missing link between theory and implementation.

Computational examples cover all the major aspects of advanced analysis; including modal analysis, harmonic analysis, mechanical and thermal fatigue analysis using finite element method. Test cases are included to support explanations an a range of different manufacturing simulation techniques are described from riveting to shot peening to material cutting. Mechanical design of a satellites structures are covered in three steps: analysis step under design loads, experimental testing to verify design, and manufacturing.

Stress engineers, lecturers, researchers and students will find Finite Element Analysis for Satellite Structures: Applications to Their Design, Manufacture and Testing a key guide on with practical instruction on applying manufacturing simulations to improve their design and reduce project cost, how to prepare static and dynamic test specifications, and how to use finite element method to investigate in more details any component that may fail during testing.

Dr Gasser Abdelal is a lecturer of Aerospace and Manufacturing, Queen’s University Belfast an Aerospace Engineer with 7 years of academic experience and 7 years of industrial one. He graduated from Aeronautical Eng. Dept at Cairo University-Egypt (1993). Determined to build an academic carrier he joined the Aerospace Eng. Dept. - University of Cincinnati, Ohio - USA for a Master degree in Analytical dynamics (1996), then the Mechanical and Aerospace Eng. Dept. (MAE) - West Virginia University (WVU), WV - USA for a PhD in micromechanical damage of composite structures (2000). He held two post doc positions, one at MAE-WVU (2002) and the second at TU-Delft Netherlands (2008). His industrial experience is divided between the Egyptian-Ukrainian Space program, as a mechanical designer of satellite structure (2003-2008), Bluewater Energy Services-Netherlands as a senior mechanical eng. of offshore structures (2009), and a research associate at VEC-University of Liverpool, where he consults with aerospace companies to improve their manufacturing process using finite element method. His research interests are continuum and micro mechanics and their applications to simulation of manufacturing process of aerospace parts, thermal analysis of variable-stiffness composites, multi-scale modelling to predict material behaviour within a computer experiment, and textile composite structures.