ESAStructuresSpace EngineeringMechanical
    28-Aug-2025
Contents
Spacecrafts:Launch Vehicles:Structural Dynamics & Control:
About us
Spacecraft structuresTerms of ReferenceDuties of the Structures section
Technology areas
Antenna structuresComposite Materials structuresFracture control / Damage toleranceInflatable structures for space applicationsMeteoroid and debris shieldingStructural verification of payloads and system hardware for human rated vehicles
Structural design and analysis
Configuration studiesStructural AnalysisLauncher-Spacecraft Coupled Loads AnalysisFluid Structure InteractionVibro-Accoustic Analysis
Project support
Project support activities
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Multibody Analysis Activities
 
The Structures Section performs detailed analyses involving flexible bodies with time-varying characteristics and control algorithms. The software programs used are DCAP (based on a ‘fast’, ‘effective’ and ‘symbolic’ formulation), SIMPACK and SAMCEF Mecano.
 
Several Multibody Dynamics Activities have been performed by the Structures Section in support of numerous projects:
 
 
Spacecrafts:
 
  • modelling unconventional S/C dynamics, including orbital environment disturbances
  • control laws, including sensors and actuation dynamics
  • coupled system frequencies and time responses
  • docking phase analysis

 
 
Launch Vehicle during lift off phase
Launch Vehicles:
 
  • non-linear time dynamic simulations for flexible bodies with time varying characteristics
  • atmospheric environment including external disturbance
  • launch vehicle flight dynamics-control interaction (directly imported into Matlab)
  • frequency domain analysis
  • multiple nozzles dynamics capabilities
  • local analyses (gust response, lift off, multi-payload separations)
  • collision avoidance
  • data recovery procedure

 
 
Flywheel application
Structural Dynamics & Control:
 
  • modelling complex devices and mechanisms
  • control design
  • coupled system frequencies and time responses
  • modelling laboratory demonstrator dynamics and control

 
 

 
 
Last update: 19 August 2009
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Conference papers
Variable mass and Simulink I/F (pdf)Data Recovery Procedure (pdf)
Related article
DCAP
Thales Alenia Space Italy
Related Links
SAMCEF Mecano
SamtechAdams
MSC.SoftwareSIMPACK
SIMPACK AG
ESA Workshop
1st ESA Workshop on Multibody Dynamics for Space Applications
 
 
 
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