PRE-PREG LATTICE STRUCTURES: Development of Fibre-Placed Pre-Preg Lattice Structures for Satellite Central Cylinder Applications.

As part of an ESA Core Technology Programme, ATG Innovation Ltd. (a subsidiary of ATG Europe) has furthered the development of uninterrupted pre-preg fibreplaced lattice structures, aiming to apply this technology to satellite central tubes (SCTs). This paper gives an overview of the progress achieved under the development program, which comprised three main steps. First, a flat lattice panel was manufactured, to be used for element level tests in support of the design and analysis of the larger structures. Secondly, an intermediate scale lattice cylinder of approximately 0.5 m diameter was manufactured, incorporating many complex features usually found in SCTs. Multiple local laminate patches for attachment points and a transition to a monolithic laminate were included in the cylinder, which served as a manufacturing trial and demonstrator. Finally, a 1.5 m diameter cylinder was manufactured and tested under satellite-representative global loads. This cylinder weighed less than 10 kg, and was easily capable of withstanding the 175 kN design compression load, ultimately failing at a line load of 184 kN/m, equivalent to an overall compression load of 870 kN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]