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Thermal design optimization method of mesh reflector antennas considering the interaction between cable net and flexible truss

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Abstract

Mesh antennas in orbit are periodically affected by solar radiation, earth reflection and space low temperature environment, and the temperature fluctuates in a wide range. Mesh antenna produce large thermal deformation or even obvious thermal disturbance under extreme temperature condition, which seriously deteriorates the surface accuracy and the tension distribution. To improve the shape stability of reflector surface and the rationality of tension distribution, a thermal design optimization method for mesh antenna considering the interaction between cable net and flexible truss is proposed. The equilibrium equation of mesh antenna system under space thermal loads is established based on finite element theory and force density equation. Due to the complexity of directly analyzing the influence of thermal loads on the entire mesh antenna, a research strategy of applying thermal loads step by step from flexible truss to cable network is adopted, and the force density increment equation of cable net under space thermal loads is derived. Then, the force density vector of the cable net is selected as the design variable, and the sum of squares of the thermal deformation of the reflector nodes is taken as the objective function, and the stability optimization model of the reflector in the whole temperature interval is established. Finally, a typical AstroMesh antenna under uniform temperature working conditions is used to illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method. Compared with the traditional optimization method, which can only ensure the better performance of a certain temperature point, the proposed method has better surface accuracy and thermal stability in the whole temperature interval.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51705388 and 51675398), the Shaanxi Innovation Team Project (No.2018TD-012) and the youth talent fund of science and Technology Association of Shaanxi University of China. Thank the staff of the Research Institute of Mechatronics, Xi'dian University, China, for their assistance in the completion of this paper. We would also like to express our gratitude to the Qingdao University of Science and Technology, China, for its technical support.

Funding

Innovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 51705388, Shuxin Zhang, 51675398, Shuxin Zhang.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Electronic Equipment Structure Design (Ministryof Education), Xidian University, Xi’an, 710071, Shaanxi, China

    Shunji Zhang, Shuxin Zhang & Wang Zhong

  2. Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong, China

    Yongzhen Gu

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  1. Shunji Zhang
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  2. Shuxin Zhang
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  4. Wang Zhong
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Correspondence to Yongzhen Gu.

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The results presented in this study can be replicated by implementing the formulas and data structures presented in this study. The code and data for producing the presented results will be made available by request.

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Zhang, S., Zhang, S., Gu, Y. et al. Thermal design optimization method of mesh reflector antennas considering the interaction between cable net and flexible truss. Struct Multidisc Optim 66, 68 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-023-03527-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-023-03527-7

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