One year after optimizing a whole microsatellite structure for CNES, Sogeclair Aerospace keeps on going to prove their mastery of topology optimization in a new R&T project in the space field.
Again powered by CNES initiative, the goal was here to improve topology optimization methods and tools to optimize mechanical and thermal behaviour of a satellite structure (only a panel this time).
This way to do is new and little explored is called:
"Multiphysics Optimization"
At first, a state of art of this new field has been done.
Two types of aspects have been looked:
Is there some scientific paper one this type of optimization?
What software is able to perform such optimization?
Differences between these software programs were diverse but the conjunction of capabilities, the editor supports and our long expertise on this software convinced us to point to Hyperworks suite being the software to use into this study.
Secondly, we've performed optimizations following various ways to converge to the best way to perform it.
The mechanical load cases which were typical (accelerations representing vibrations and modal analysis) were associated with thermal flux and forced temperature coming from the equipment and from the rest of the structure generating heat to distribute to a radiator.
In clear, the optimum structure to obtain have to maintain everything mechanically and have to conduct (or not) the heat efficiently enough to not overheat fragile onboard electronics.
Seven main types of optimization had finally been done, generating 44 topology optimizations or tests. All these models provided there more or less satisfying results.
In the end, one type of optimization has been awarded as the most efficient of all crowning a long research work for our topological optimization experts.
