Deployment dynamical numerical simulation on large elliptical truss antenna

Abstract

With the unique advantages in the application of bias-feed high-precision mesh antennas, the large elliptical truss antenna (LETA) attracts attention of many scholars. Due to the complexity of the LETA deployment process, there are some potential risks in orbit development. The successful deployment of antenna on orbit is the key to determine the success or failure of satellite missions. In order to improve the deployment reliability and the load safety of the components of the antennas, the dynamic characteristics of the LETA must be fully identified by the means of simulation, and the load characteristics of the components during the deploying process must be obtained. As a typical flexible multi-body system, a geometric precise beam is used to model bars with large deformation in the LETA and the flexible driving cable is modeled based on one-dimensional dynamic medium dynamics theory. The dynamic modeling and numerical simulation of the deploying process are presented in the paper. On this basis, the unsynchronized phenomenon is analyzed, which is caused mainly by the flexibility of components and the friction loss of driving cable through the hinges. In addition, from the perspective of energy, it shows that friction loss and mesh tension are the most important factors affecting the loads of driving cable and truss. Finally, the design optimization suggestions are given to improve the reliability.