• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.443-453
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• 2015

Cable-beam structures characterized by variable stiffness nonlinearities are widely found in various structural engineering applications, for example in space deployable structures. Space deployable structures in orbit experience both high temperature caused by sun's radiation and low temperature by Earth's umbral shadow. The space temperature difference is above 300K at the moment of exiting or entering Earth's umbral shadow, which results in structural thermally induced vibration. To understand the thermally induced oscillations, the analytical expression of Boley parameter of cable-beam structures is firstly deduced. Then, the thermally induced vibration of cable-beam structures is analyzed using finite element method to verify the effectiveness of Boley parameter. Finally, by analyzing the obtained numerical results and the corresponding Boley parameters, it can be concluded that the derived expression of Boley parameter is valid to evaluate the occurrence conditions of thermally induced vibration of cable-beam structures and the key parameters influencing structural thermal flutter are the cable stiffness and thickness of beams.