Design and development of a multifunctional composite radiation shield for space applications

• Main Author: Emmanuel, Adebayo
• Other Authors: Jayaraman, Raghavan (Mechanical Engineering), Telichev, Igor (Mechanical Engineering) Alfaro, Marolo (Civil Engineering) Yeow, John T.W. (Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo)
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Advances in Space Research 2013
• Subjects: Radiation shielding; Highly Elliptical Orbit; Multi-layered shield; Composite structure; Simulation; Experimental validation; Satellite shielding; Arctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/32256

A Canadian Polar and Communication (PCW) satellite mission has been proposed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in conjunction with the other departmental agencies and industrial partners. PCW mission will provide essential communications and meteorological services to the Canadian Arctic, as well as space weather observations of ionizing radiation along the orbit. The CSA has identified three potential Highly Elliptical Orbits (HEOs) for a PCW satellite constellation. One of which is Molniya orbit, which provides good satellite coverage and high orbital stability at reasonable altitude. But owing to low apogee of Molniya orbit, its trajectory passes through high radiation Van Allen belts subjecting the satellites in such orbit to highly energetic radiation particles requiring radiation shields to protect the satellite electronics and space bus. The commonly used aluminium alloy - based shield would be heavy and costly for the satellite mission and a lighter alternative material has not been developed in the past. Hence, the objective of this thesis is to develop a multifunctional hybrid composite shield that is lighter than aluminium and meets the mission requirements on radiation shielding and mechanical properties. Using MULASSIS, a particle transport code within European Space Agency’s SPENVIS, and the TID (Total Ionization Dose) transmitted through, and absorbed by a radiation shield, for a 15-year mission in Molniya, was predicted as a function of its areal weight. Using a design approach involving methodical study of homogeneous materials and polymer composite materials made up of two or more materials, and hybrid composite made up of composites and homogeneous materials, hybrid composite compositions that meet the radiation requirements were identified. Using lamination theory, the mechanical properties of these compositions were predicted and compared with the properties of the currently used Al 6061 alloy to choose the composition of the multifunctional hybrid composite that is lighter than Al by 13%. ...