Cyclic Tensile Loading Test for a Quartz Fiber Cable of a Deployable Antenna Reflector on Satellite

Abstract

Cyclic tensile tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical performance of a quartz fiber cable assembly that is part of the mesh and cable network system of a deployable antenna reflector. The cable assembly was a non-twisted quartz fiber yarn covered with a Nomex knitted fiber tube, and both ends were bent back to form loops. The cable assembly demonstrated nonlinear tensile behavior in the first cycle, which caused a large residual displacement after unloading. In the following cycles, relatively linear tensile behavior was observed. However, displacement at the maximum allowable loading, i.e., incremental displacement, increased with increasing number of cycles. The quartz fiber cable assembly was divided into a straight segment and a loop segment, and those were tested individually. The loop segment showed nonlinear tensile behavior. The incremental displacement of the loop segment was almost the same as that of the cable assembly. Cross-sectional observation of the loop segment revealed that incremental displacement developed due to flattening of the cable at the loading points. Total displacement due to flattening of the cable was consistent with the incremental displacement of the cable assembly.