Novel Payload Dynamics on Space Elevator Systems
- Paper number
IAC-05-D4.2.07
- Author
Prof. Colin R. McInnes, University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Mr. Chris Davis, United Kingdom
- Year
2005
- Abstract
A simple model of a payload freely ascending or descending a space elevator will be considered to explore the underlying dynamics of the problem. Firstly, it will be shown that an unconstrained payload at rest on a space elevator at synchronous radius is in an unstable equilibrium. This instability is due to the presence of a maximum in the effective potential of the problem, which represents the gravitational and centripetal forces acting on the payload. The existence of this maximum in the effective potential then leads to a barrier which must be crossed by payloads ascending or descending the elevator. Conditions can be found which allow, for example, a payload captured at the top of the elevator to freely descend through synchronous radius. Similar conditions can also be determined under which a payload ascending the elevator will coast through synchronous radius and ascend the elevator to escape. The effect of friction is also included and analytic solutions obtained which represent the dynamics of the problem. A more complex problem will then be investigated which involves a large number of payloads ascending an elevator which are attached together along its length. New conditions can then be found under which the uppermost payloads will pull the lower payloads across the potential barrier discussed above, and along the elevator to escape. A chain of such payloads can be envisaged providing a continuous stream of mass lifted from the surface of the Earth with essentially zero energy cost. While there are significant engineering difficulties associated with this concept, the underlying dynamics demonstrates that such a novel effect is in principle possible.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-D4.2.07.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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