Quasi-static and Dynamic Analysis of a 12U Cubesat Under Flight-phase Environmental Loads

Haddadi, Amirreza; Ghoreishi, Seyed Mohammad Navid; Sedigh, Yaser; Shabani, Hossein

doi:10.22034/jast.2025.475926.1207

Quasi-static and Dynamic Analysis of a 12U Cubesat Under Flight-phase Environmental Loads

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Amirreza Haddadi ¹

Seyed mohammad navid Ghoreishi ²

Yaser Sedigh ³

Hossein Shabani ⁴

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

² Satellite Research Institute, Iranian Space Research Center, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Department of Aerospace Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/jast.2025.475926.1207

Abstract

CubeSats are a class of nanosatellites that, despite being small, are able to perform important space missions without the need for large and complicated satellites. Since during the operational life of the satellite, especially during the launch phase, various quasi-static and dynamic loads are applied to the satellites, therefore, the strength and dynamic analyses of the satellite structure, as the main element to tolerate external loads, are of great importance. In this paper, the mechanical design and full finite element analysis of the structure of a 12U remote-sensing CubeSat, including modal, random vibrations, sinusoidal vibrations, and quasi-static analysis, are performed. First, the design process of the presented 12U CubeSat, which fulfills the requirements of CubeSats, is expressed. In the design of the structure, a middle plate is used to increase the stiffness and natural frequencies. Second, Ansys Software performs the finite element analysis of the satellite according to the ECSS standard. The numerical results show that the designed structure meets all requirements of the launcher, including stiffness and frequency requirements while sustaining the static and dynamic loads during the launch phase

Keywords

Cubesat

Dynamic analysis

Finite element method

Environmental loads

Subjects

Aerospace Structures

[1] California Polytechnic State University. “CubeSat Design Specification”. Date of visit: May 20, 2020. URL: https://www. cubesat.org/resources.

[2] A. Ampatzoglou and V. Kostopoulos, “Design, analysis, optimization, manufacturing, and testing of a 2U CubeSat, “International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 9724263, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9724263.

[3] E. E. Bürger, G. Loureiro, R. Z. G. Bohrer, L. L. Costa, C. T. Hoffmann, D. H. Zambrano, and G. P. Jaenisch, “Development and analysis of a Brazilian CubeSat structure,” Proceedings of the 22nd International Congress of Mechanical Engineering–COBEM, November 2013.

[4] J. E. Herrera-Arroyave, B. Bermúdez-Reyes, J. A. Ferrer-Pérez and A.vColín, “CubeSat system structural design,” In 67th International Astronautical Congress. Guadalajara, Mexico, pp. 1-5, September 2016.

[5] G. I. Barsoum, H. H. Ibrahim, and M. A. Fawzy, “Static and random vibration analyses of a university CubeSat project,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 1264, no. 1, IOP Publishing, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1264/1/012019.

[6] A. N. Alhammadi, F. Jarrar, M. Al-Shaibah, A. Almesmari, T. Vu, A. Tsoupos, and P. Marpu, “Effect of finite element model details in structural analysis of CubeSats,” CEAS Space Journal, vol. 13, pp. 231-246, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1264/1/012019

[7] B. Bermúdez-Reyes, J. E. Herrera Arroyave, P. Zambrano Robledo, R. Vargas-Bernal, and J. A. Ferrer Pérez, “Dynamic Computational Analysis of a Cubesat Structure to Test a New Material for a Space-Radiation Protection Shield,” In Space Fostering Latin American Societies: Developing the Latin American Continent Through Space, Part 4, pp. 97-116, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20675-7_6

[8] A. Ampatzoglou, A. Baltopoulos, A. Kotzakolios, and V. Kostopoulos, “Qualification of the composite structure for CubeSat picosatellites as a demonstration for small satellite elements,” International Journal of Aeronautical Science & Aerospace Research (IJASAR), vol.1, no. 1, pp. 1-10, 2014, dx.doi.org/10.19070/2470-4415-140001.

[9] V. M. Chau and H. B. Vo, “Structural dynamics analysis of 3-U CubeSat,” Applied Mechanics and Materials, vol.. 894, pp. 164-170. 2019,
https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.894.164.

[10] A. Almazrouei, A. Khan, A. Almesmari, A. Albuainain, A. Bushlaibi, A. Al Mahmood and Y. Alqassab, “A complete mission concept design and analysis of the student-led cubesat project: Light-1,” Aerospace, vol. 8, no. 9, Art. no. 247, 2021, https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace8090247.

[11] M. Cıhan, A. Çetın, M. O. Kaya and G. İnalhan, “Design and analysis of an innovative modular cubesat structure for ITU-pSAT II,” IEEE In Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Recent Advances in Space Technologies-RAST2011, pp. 494-499, June 2011, 10.1109/RAST.2011.5966885.

[12] V. H. L. C. Lima, R. D. N. Rodrigues, P. M. C. Lamary and R. D. A. Bezerra, “Dynamic structural analysis in a 2U CubeSat considering quasi-static loads,” vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 94-108, 2022, https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-3052022000100094.

[13] C. Güvenç, B. Topcu, and C. Tola, “Mechanical design and finite element analysis of a 3-unit cubesat structure,” Machines. Technologies. Materials, vol. 12, no. 5, pp. 193-196, 2018,

[14] M. R. Aswin, A. Pavithran, Y. Mangrole, and B. Ravi, “Structural and thermal analysis of a CubeSat,” In Conference of Innovative Product Design and Intelligent Manufacturing System, pp. 363-371, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, November 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1665-8_32.

[15] G. N. Guentchev, M. M. Bayer, X. Li, and O. Boyraz, “Mechanical design and thermal analysis of a 12U CubeSat MTCW lidar-based optical measurement system for littoral ocean dynamics,” In CubeSats and SmallSats for Remote Sensing V, vol. 11832, pp. 71-98, SPIE, August 2021, https://doi.org/ 10.1117/12.2597709.

[16] M. Abbasi, S. Ghazanfarinia, K. Amini, and M. Aghayi Motaaleghi, “A model-based system engineering approach for CubeSat structure and configuration management with highly constrained system design,” Engineering Solid Mechanics, vol. 13, pp. 53-68, 2025, 10.5267/j.esm.2024.8.003.

[17] M. Hekmatfar, M. R. M. Aliha, M. S. Pishvaee, and T. Sadowski, “A robust, flexible optimization model for 3D-layout of interior equipment I a multi-floor satellite,” Mathematics, Vol. 24, No. 11, 2023, https://doi.org/10.3390/math11244932.

[18] M. Aliha, M. Hekmatfar, M. Pishvaei, and S. Mirsaman, “Multi-Floor Equipment Layout Design in Cylindrical Satellites via Optimization Techniques,” Space Science, Technology, and Applications, vol. 3, no. 2, 2024.

[19] C. Quiroz-Garfias, G. Silva-Navarro, and H. R. Cortés. “Finite Element Analysis and Design of a CubeSat Class Picosatellite Structure,” Fourth International Conference on Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICEEE), https:doi.org/10.1109/ICEEE.2007.4345026.

[20] E. E. Bürger, G. Loureiro, R.Z.G. Bohrer, L.L. Costa, C.T. Hoffmann, D.H. Zambrano, and G.P. Jaenisch, “Development and analysis of a Brazilian CubeSat structure,” Twenty-second International Congress of Mechanical Engineering (COBEM 2013). Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Nov. 3-7, 2013.

[21] F. T. Al-Maliky and M. J. Albermani, “Structural analysis of KufaSat using Ansys program,” Artificial Satellites, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 29-35, 2018.

[22] T. Sarafin and W. F. Larson, Spacecraft structures and mechanisms: from concept to launch, Wiley J. Larson, 2009.

[23] “Soyuz user’s manual,” at the Guiana Space Centre User’s Manual Issue 2, Revision 0, March 2012.