Stability of a Jointed FREE FREE Beam Under End Rocket Thrust

Abstract This paper deals with the stability of a flexible space structure subjected to an end rocket thrust. The thrust acts upon the structure as a follower non-conservative force, thus the structure can lose its stability by flutter or divergence depending on the system parameters. It is assumed that the articulated free–free beams are subjected to a tangential follower force. The model consists of two viscoelastic beams interconnected by two kinds of joints. One of the joints is composed of a rotational viscoelastic spring while another is a shear viscoelastic spring. A FEM formulation of the articulated structure is performed. Bending flutter or post-flutter divergence are shown to occur depending on the joint rigidity and the internal damping.