Thermo-mechanical topology optimization of detector support: application to the VIGIL JEDI instrument Centre Spatial de Liège

Abstract

The JEDI instrument onboard the VIGIL mission consists of two telescopes, each equipped with a detector. These detectors are supported by dedicated structures that must satisfy conflicting thermo-mechanical requirements. As a result, an optimal geometry maximizing the natural frequency while meeting thermal constraints can be sought. This objective constitutes the main focus of the present study.

The first part of this work is devoted to the development and validation of a parametric simulation framework. The validation process was carried out through comparison with the analytical Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, a mesh convergence study, and a comparison with experimental vibration data. Once validated, the model was used to investigate the influence of geometric parameters on the structural dynamics, first by neglecting heat conduction through the support and then by including thermal conduction effects in the simulations. Finally, the parametric study was used to develop a regression model capable of predicting the resonance frequency directly from the design parameters, thereby eliminating the need for computationally expensive numerical simulations during preliminary design iterations.

The second part of this study focuses on topology optimization with the objective of identifying optimal structural layouts. The optimization process was performed using the OOFELIE software developed by Open-Engineering. As in the parametric analysis, thermal constraints were first neglected and subsequently included in order to evaluate their influence on the optimization results. This approach made it possible to assess the impact of the thermal constraint on the generated topologies and to explore potential design solutions for detector support structures.

Overall, this work provides both a parametric design methodology and a topology optimization framework for the preliminary development of lightweight detector support structures subjected to stringent thermo-mechanical requirements.