Comparing composite materials with structural steels in the design of the optical support structure of very large telescopes

Andrew Y. S. Cheng; Robert K.Y. Li

doi:10.1117/12.58048

26 March 1992 Comparing composite materials with structural steels in the design of the optical support structure of very large telescopes

Andrew Y. S. Cheng, Robert K.Y. Li

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 1618, Large Optics II; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.58048
Event: Optics Rochester: SPIE's International Symposium on Imaging, Fabrication, and Competitiveness, 1991, Rochester, NY, United States

Abstract

In this paper we have used the method of finite element analysis to study some candidate composite materials - carbon fiber reinforced epoxy and glass fiber reinforced epoxy. These composites may have real applications in the design of the optical support structures of very large telescopes where stringent thermomechanical stability are much needed. The lightweight property of these materials allow one to build very stiff members for the optical support to withstand the structural deflections due to wind vibration and gravity. We have run finite element models of these composites using ABAQUS on a VAX VMS computer. Simple beams with rectangular crosssections were computed for the composites with structural steel as a comparison. The static properties of these beams were studied.

Citation Download Citation

Andrew Y. S. Cheng and Robert K.Y. Li "Comparing composite materials with structural steels in the design of the optical support structure of very large telescopes", Proc. SPIE 1618, Large Optics II, (26 March 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.58048

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