Coupling dynamic behavior characteristics of a spacecraft beam with composite laminated structures and large-scale motions

A nonlinear dynamic modeling method for a spacecraft body composed of a laminated composite beam undergoing large rotation is proposed in this paper. To study the characteristics of a laminated composite beam attached to a spacecraft body for the dynamic systems, the deformation description of a laminated beam is established with the consideration of laying angles and laying layers, and the displacement-strain relations is acquired based on the global-local higher-order shear deformation theory. Accordingly, a nonlinear dynamic model of the spacecraft body composed of a laminated composite beam is deduced using Hamilton variational principle. And the complete coupling terms for the laminated material properties are considered unlike any other singular or unidirectional materials. Then, the dynamic behavior of the spacecraft system is analyzed by comparison of an orthogonal-symmetric, singular, and unidirectional laminated beam. The results show that the laminated composite structures have significant influences on the dynamics properties of spacecraft compared with conventional equivalent singular or unidirectional materials. Hence, the nonlinear model is well suitable for approaching the problem of coupling relationship between geometric nonlinearity and large rotation motions. These conclusions will have significant theory and engineering practice values for coupling dynamics properties of laminated beams.