Numerical modelling of elastic space tethers

Kristian Uldall Kristiansen, P. L. Palmer, R. M. Roberts

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    In this paper the importance of the ill-posedness of the classical, non-dissipative massive tether model on an orbiting tether system is studied numerically. The computations document that via the regularisation of bending resistance a more reliable numerical integrator can be produced. Furthermore, the numerical experiments of an orbiting tether system show that bending may introduce significant forces in some regions of phase space. Finally, numerical evidence for the existence of an almost invariant slow manifold of the singularly perturbed, regularised, non-dissipative massive tether model is provided. It is also shown that on the slow manifold the dynamics of the satellites are well-approximated by the finite dimensional slack-spring model.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalCelestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy
    Volume113
    Issue number2
    Pages (from-to)235-254
    ISSN0923-2958
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Numerical modelling of elastic space tethers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this