A new modelling method for satellite solar panel and its correlation verification

Abstract In satellite design and manufacturing, due to the influence of material properties, sandwich structure and equivalent algorithm, there is usually a significant deviation between the theoretical model and the actual physical prototype. To solve the issue, a new finite element model of satellite sailboard based on sandwich theory is constructed. The key parameters of the model are iteratively optimized by Lagrange optimization algorithm to improve its accuracy and reliability. The Lansos method is used to simulate the satellite sailboard model, and the comparison is made with the actual test model. The results show that the error of the modified model in the first six orders of frequency is less than 5%, which meets the modal correlation standard, and the modal assurance criterion (MAC) value is higher than 0.85. Compared with the uncorrected model, the first six frequency errors are reduced by 0.1%, 0.9%, 0.7%, 2.0%, 1.1% and 5.5%, respectively. At the same time, the MAC value of each mode increased by 1.9%, 3.2%, 1.2%, 2.6%, 13.1% and 27.1%, respectively. These findings show that the revised sailboard model is closer to the test model in terms of frequency and modal characteristics, while providing a higher level of accuracy and reliability.