MS thesis abstract - Clawson, Alissa

Author:	Clawson, Alissa
Degree:	Masters of Science
SERC #:	6-01
File type:	PDF, 2142 kB
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Capturing the Impact of Model Error on Structural Dynamic Analyses During Design Evolution

Space telescopes are complex structures, with stringent performance requirements which must be met while conforming to design constraints. In order to ensure that the performance requirements are met, accurate models of all the different components of the integrated model is needed. In modeling the structure, however, early in the project, the design is not complete when analysis starts and key design decisions are made. Knowledge of how the model fidelity evolves as the design or model improves helps with the interpretation of the analysis such that only the appropriate information from the data will be used. In this thesis, model fidelity evolution is studied to understand what key information can be gathered at the different stages of fidelity and what error types to expect. First, a simple truss problem is used as an example of the different stages of model fidelity by using four different types of models: Bernoulli-Euler beam, Timoshenko beam, truss with rod members and truss with bending members. Then, the Origins Testbed is used as an example of a completed design to parallel model updating error to design fidelity error. Finally, the ARGOS testbed is introduced as a low fidelity model. The conclusions drawn from the Origins Testbed and example problem are applied to the results of a disturbance analysis of ARGOS.