1 Non-Deterministic Passive and Active Design Scaling Laws of Trussed Architectures

This article numerically investigates dynamic stiffness versus strength trades of imperfect passive and active trusses that fail in local elastic-stability modes and are relevant to space vehicle programs. Design scaling laws are derived in the presence of member straightness or eccentricity imperfections as well as sensor and actuator noise. These two imperfections are each characterized as a statistical uncertainty. Reliability-based design optimization techniques are employed to propagate the uncertainty distributions. Unlike previous studies, design decision points are probabilistically understood, e.g., when it is favorable to integrate active control. Member eccentricity statistical characterizations either position the active control favorability decision point at approximately 10 % compensator mass fraction or shift the point to many multiples of this fraction. The former decision point occurs if eccentricity scales with truss member length and the latter decision points occur if eccentricity scales with truss member radius. Further, a previously discovered dynamically distinct high-authority control regime is shown to exist irrespective of truss topology and connectivity. An active control power term accurately predicts the pivotal compensator power rates delineating this regime’s feasibility. These predictions are statisticall