Development of a new connector for double layer space grids

Publication date: Available online 5 July 2016 Source:Perspectives in Science Author(s): Vishal A. Arekar, Yogesh D. Patil, Hemant S. Patil Connection of the space grid elements by using connectors is one of the most common practices for construction of space structures. These connectors usually involve higher fabrication cost due to their complex geometry. To address this issue, in the present work, a new solid connector with simple geometry has been developed by truncating the corners of a cube, and is named as Truncated Hexahedron (THH). The experimental, theoretical and analytical studies have been carried out to obtain the stresses for THH connector. An instrumented axial loading test has been performed on actual THH connector, and the load-stress relationship has been obtained from load and strain measurement. A manual finite element analysis has also been carried out for theoretical computation of the stresses in the connector. Further, the THH connector has been modelled and analysed using ANSYS software and the obtained results have been compared with experimental and theoretically computed results. Subsequently, in order to assess the performance of THH connector in comparison to a standard connector (Spherical connector), a double layer grid has been analysed considering both Spherical and THH connectors at each joint of the grid separately, and it has been observed that the maximum Principal stresses in both the connectors are mostly comparable. Hence, t...

Source: Perspectives in Science - July 14, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: research