Finite element modeling of sail deformation under solar radiation pressure

A numerical structural model of a thin-film sail that simulates the deformation caused by solar-radiation pressure is developed, using a geometrically nonlinear finite element method (FEM). By using the finite element presented in this study, the force and moment exerted on an arbitrarily shaped solar sail subjected to solar pressure can be calculated accurately. In addition, it is shown that the sail deformation due to a solar-pressure load can be approximated by the deformation caused by the corresponding uniform gas-pressure load. This finding will significantly simplify analyses to improve attitude controller design as well as structural design of sailcraft, because commercially available ITEM software can be used for the analyses.