Design and Test of a Honeycomb Radiator Panel With Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Facesheets and Aluminum Heat Pipes

Document Number: 932302

Date Published: July 1993

Author(s):
Robert Muller - Deutsche Aerospace ERNO Raumfahrttechnik GmbH
Ulrich Rieck - Deutsche Aerospace ERNO Raumfahrttechnik GmbH
Alois Koppl - Deutsche Aerospace ERNO Raumfahrttechnik GmbH
Daniele Stramaccioni - European Space Research and Technology Center

Abstract:
The use of carbon fiber reinforced composite materials in unit-carrying satellite radiator panels was studied.

Different panel architectures and component materials were identified.

The mass-specific heat rejection capability of the most promising of these configurations was analytically determined for different heat loads having either the stiffness of the strength of a reference configuration.

The analytical results clearly define the optimum panel configuration under the different structural and thermal requirements. The panel configuration consisting of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) facesheets, aluminum honeycomb core and top-mounted aluminum heatpipes was found to be superior in a wide range of requirements and therefore selected as a reference concept. A flexible adhesive was used as the thermal interface between both components having significantly different thermal expansion coefficients.

A representative technology demonstration panel was designed, manufactured and tested w.r.t. heat transfer capability and structural integrity under temperature cycling.

The panel performed well under nominal load and cycling, but the adhesive was found to be sensitive against manufacturing inaccuracies and excessive loads.

The paper describes the material and architecture trade-off, and the design, manufacturing and testing of the technology demonstration panel.

File Size: 1122K
Product Status: In Stock

See other papers presented at International Conference On Environmental Systems, July 1993, Colorado Springs, CO, USA, Session: International Conference On Environmental Systems

Purchase more technical papers and save! With TechSelect, you decide what SAE Technical Papers you need, when you need them, and how much you want to pay. Learn more >