Date of Graduation
2015
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
PhD
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Physics and Astronomy
Committee Chair
Leonardo Golubovic
Committee Co-Chair
Wathiq Abdul Razzaq
Committee Member
Loren Anderson
Committee Member
Harry Gingold
Committee Member
Daniel J Pisano
Committee Member
Earl Scime
Abstract
We investigate a novel and unique dynamical system, the Rotating Space Elevator (RSE). The RSE is a multiply rotating system of strings reaching beyond the Earth geo-synchronous satellite orbit. Objects sliding along the RSE string ("climbers") do not require internal engines or propulsion to be transported far away from the Earth's surface. The RSE thus solves a major problem in the space elevator technology which is how to supply the energy to the climbers moving along the string. The RSE is a double rotating floppy string. The RSE can be made in various shapes that are stabilized by an approximate equilibrium between the gravitational and inertial forces acting in the double rotating frame. The RSE exhibits a variety of interesting dynamical phenomena studied in this thesis.
Recommended Citation
Knudsen, Steven, "Rotating Space Elevators: Classical and Statistical Mechanics" (2015). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 5995.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/5995