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.
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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).
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 141 • Issue 7 • July 2015
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
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