Free-Vertex Tetrahedral Finite-Element Representation and Its Use for Estimating Density Distribution of Irregularly-Shaped Asteroids

Aerospace

Yu Shi¹  Weidong Yin¹  Leizheng Shu¹  Yang Yu² 

[1] Key Laboratory of Space Utilization, Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China;School of Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100091, China;

关键词: asteroid or comet;    tetrahedral finite element;    gravitational model;    density distribution;    spherical harmonics;   

DOI  :  10.3390/aerospace8120371

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In this article, we present a free-vertex tetrahedral finite-element representation of irregularly shaped small bodies, which provides an alternative solution for estimating asteroid density distribution. We derived the transformations between gravitational potentials expressed by the free-vertex tetrahedral finite elements and the spherical harmonic functions. Inversely, the density of each free-vertex tetrahedral finite element can be estimated via the least-squares method, assuming a spherical harmonic gravitational function is present. The proposed solution is illustrated by modeling gravitational potential and estimating the density distribution of the simulated asteroid 216 Kleopatra.

【 授权许可】

Unknown