Structural Verification of the Rigidizable Inflatable Get-Away-Special Experiment

The Air Force Institute of Technology has developed the Rigidizable Inflatable Get-Away-Special Experiment (RIGEX) in order to advance development of inflatable, rigidizable space structures. RIGEX will test the deployment and structural characteristics of three thermoplastic composite tubes in the space environment. RIGEX is designed to fly in the Canister for All Payload Ejections container within the Space Shuttle Orbiter’s payload bay. This paper summarizes the science and motivation behind RIGEX’s inflatable rigidizable structure research. It then details the design and analysis of the RIGEX flight structure, which will house the inflatable rigidizable experiment. The paper details the development of a RIGEX finite element model. Results from this model are used to validate structural integrity of the experiment’s design and as a step towards meeting NASA natural frequency and load limit requirements. A dynamic modal analysis showed the first natural mode of the structure to be well above the 50 Hz minimum requirement. Then a static analysis was completed to show that the loads on all bolts were within factor of safety limits at maximum expected loads. The positive results from these analyses allow for the continued development and construction of the RIGEX experiment, scheduled for launch in 2007