<title>Microdynamic issues in large deployable space telescopes</title>

Abstract

This paper discusses a framework for microdynamic analysis-- analyzing a structure for nonlinear dynamics behavior in the nanometric regime--and illustrates how microdynamic behaviors such as microlurch, joint snaps, and harmonic distortion fit within the framework. The framework is based on three types of nonlinear load-displacement behaviors associated with hysteresis in joints: deadzone, nonlinear elasticity, and hysteretic damping. The second part of the paper describes microdynamic analyses currently being used to flow optical performance requirements down to stability requirements at the component level. Such analyses are useful during error budget allocation exercises early in the mission design cycle.