Abstract
Large deployable high-frequency mesh antennas are being envisioned for future space missions. The static determinacy is required to ensure the long-term dimensional stability of cable net reflectors of mesh antennas under extreme space environments. In this paper, the design methodologies for creating statically determinate cable net topology configurations of AstroMesh and umbrella-type antennas are proposed on the basis of the generalized Maxwell’s rule, respectively. To generate these configurations, the number of subdivisions of mesh reflectors is first determined by the allowable surface accuracy. Then, by introducing the concept of nodal connectivity, the cable net topology configurations of AstroMesh antennas are deduced from a general analytical solution of linear algebraic theory. The desired topology configurations of umbrella-type antennas are obtained by adjusting the number of nodes, cables, and kinematic constraints under uncertain supporting boundary conditions. Some novel cable net topology configurations with static determinacy are created for AstroMesh and umbrella-type antennas. These design results will provide valuable topology configurations for the structural design of deployable mesh antennas.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51375360) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. K505131000087).
References
Agrawal, P. K., Anderson, M. S., and Card, M. F. (1981). “Preliminary design of large reflector with flat facets.” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., 29(4), 688–694.
Calladine, C. R. (1978). “Buckminster fuller’s “tensegrity” structures and clerk Maxwell’s rules for the construction of stiff frames.” Int. J. Solids Struct., 14(2), 161–172.
Chen, Q., et al. (2007). “Piezoelectric polymers actuators for precise shape control of large scale space antennas.” Proc., SPIE Smart Structures and Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, International Society for Optical Engineering, Bellingham, WA.
Lai, C. Y., and Pellegrino, S. (2001). “Umbrella-type furlable reflector based on tension-truss concept.” 42nd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conf. and Exhibit, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Li, T., and Su, J. (2011). “Electrical properties analysis of wire mesh for mesh reflectors.” Acta Astronaut., 69(1–2), 109–117.
Lin, J. K., Fang, H., Im, E., and Quijano, U. O. (2006a). “Concept study of a 35-m spherical reflector system for nexrad in space application.” 47th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conf., Vol. 1, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA, 62–73.
Lin, J. K., Knoll, C. F., and Willey, C. E. (2006b). “Shape memory rigidizable inflatable structures for large space systems applications.” 47th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Material Conf., Vol. 5, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA, 3695–3704.
Liu, W., Li, D., and Jiang, J. (2013). “A general mesh configuration design approach for large cable-network antenna reflectors.” J. Struct. Eng., 04013051.
Meguro, A., Harada, S., and Watanabe, M. (2003). “Key technologies for high-accuracy large mesh antenna reflectors.” Acta Astronaut., 53(11), 899–908.
Meguro, A., Shintate, K., Usui, M., and Tsujihata, A. (2009). “In-orbit deployment characteristics of large deployable antenna reflector onboard engineering test satellite VIII.” Acta Astronaut., 65(9–10), 1306–1316.
Natori, M. C., Takano, T., Inoue, T., and Noda, T. (1993). “Design and development of a deployable mesh antenna for MUSES-B spacecraft.” 34th AIAA /ASME /ASCE /AHS /ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conf., American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Pellegrino, S. (1993). “Structural computations with the singular decomposition of the equilibrium matrix.” Int. J. Solids Struct., 30(21), 3025–3035.
Pellegrino, S., and Calladine, C. R. (1986). “Matrix analysis of statically and kinematically indeterminate frameworks.” Int. J. Solids Struct., 22(4), 409–428.
Shi, H., Yang, B., Thomson, M., and Fang, H. (2012). “Automatic surface mesh generation for design of space deployable mesh reflectors.” 53rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conf., American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Tanaka, H. (2011). “Surface error estimation and correction of a space antenna based on antenna gain analyses.” Acta Astronaut., 68(7–8), 1062–1069.
Thomson, M. (2002). “Astromesh deployable reflectors for ku and ka band commercial satellites.” Proc., 20th AIAA Int. Communications Satellite Systems Conf. and Exhibit, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Tibert, A. G. (2003). “Optimal design of tension truss antennas.” 44th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Material Conf., Vol. 3, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA, 2051–2060.
Tibert, A. G., and Pellegrino, S. (2002). “Deployable tensegrity reflectors for small satellites.” J. Spacecraft Rockets, 39(5), 701–709.
Wang, Z., Li, T., and Cao, Y. (2013). “Active shape adjustment of cable net structures with pzt actuators.” Aerosp. Sci. Technol., 26(1), 160–168.
Yang, B., Shi, H., Thomson, M., and Fang, H. (2009). “Optimal design of initial surface profile of deployable mesh reflectors via static modeling and quadratic programming.” 50th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Material Conf., American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 18, 2013
Accepted: Jul 15, 2014
Published online: Aug 19, 2014
Discussion open until: Jan 19, 2015
Published in print: Jul 1, 2015
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.