A study on grid-stiffened multi-functional composite structures with radiation spot shielding

This paper deals with alternative multi-functional structures by using grid-stiffened composite panel with excellent bending stiffness and lightweight characteristics. The grid-stiffened multi-functional structure can provide an array of available rooms for integrating multiple electronic circuitries into structure with ease. The substrate fabrication process was proposed and the grid-stiffened multi-functional structure equipped with several electronics and interfaces was built up. In order to improve the thermal conduction capability, pitch-based carbon fibers were applied to facesheet of the multi-functional structure. The spot shielding technique was also proposed to enhance the radiation shielding at the selective region sensitive to radiation, and the lightweight radiation spot shielding plate was fabricated with multi-layered laminate of CFRP and tungsten foil. The radiation shielding effectiveness of the multi-functional structure with spot shielding plate was demonstrated by proton beam irradiation test. Through the test, it was found that the radiation spot shielding plate has comparable proton-shielding performance to aluminum but more lightweight characteristics than aluminum. Grid-stiffened MFS with radiation spot shielding can be an effective measure for accommodating lots of electronics into structure, providing dramatic mass and volume savings in spacecraft design.