Design and Analysis of Cable Net Structure for Modular Hexagonal Prism Deployable Antenna

doi:10.3901/JME.2024.01.262

Abstract

Abstract: To better investigate the influence mechanism of cable net structures on the accuracy of the deployed antenna surface, a high-precision geometric design method for a hexagonal cable net structure is proposed for a hexagonal prism modular antenna configuration. Firstly, based on the characteristics of the support structure, operating frequency band, and antenna surface equations, the cable net configuration design is conducted. A parametric model is established to represent the relationship between surface accuracy and cable length, segmentations, and other fractions. Furthermore, employing the theory of robotics homogeneous coordinate transformations, a mathematical model considering the sagging effect of boundary nodes is developed. Secondly, practical engineering cases are used for comparison to validate the above models. A physical study of the cable net structure is conducted on a hexagonal prism single-module prototype, and errors are analyzed and researched. Finally, a multi-parameter impact analysis is carried out to investigate the influence of aperture size, parabolic surface equation, mesh density, and other parameters on surface accuracy. The research results show that the mean absolute error of the cable segments is approximately 4.9 mm, and the mean relative error is about 3.38%, with good agreement between the measured values and theoretical values. The reduction trend of cable net surface error becomes slower as the cable segment density increases. Effective improvements in cable net accuracy can be achieved by increasing the focal length of the reflecting surface and reducing the antenna aperture. This research provides valuable insights and references for subsequent shape-finding analysis of cable net structures, adjustments of surface accuracy, and research on similar antenna cable net structures.

Key words: deployable antenna, modular structure, cable net structure, structural design, surface accuracy

CLC Number:

V443

TIAN Dake, SHI Zuwei, JIN Lu, GUO Hongwei, LIU Rongqiang, SUN Zixiong. Design and Analysis of Cable Net Structure for Modular Hexagonal Prism Deployable Antenna[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2024, 60(1): 262-273.

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