Parametric design optimization approach to petal-type solid surface deployable reflectors

Abstract

A parametric design approach to the petal-type solid surface deployable reflector is presented, in which the generic parametric model of the reflector is established and its division parameters are optimized to simplify the structure, increase deployment reliability and improve electrical performance. For this goal, the estimated expression of the division number of petals is first derived as the initial value of subsequent optimization algorithm. Then the estimation-trial algorithm is developed, its corresponding three-level nested optimization model is established, and the reference circle model for improving the efficiency in solving the aforementioned model is proposed. Furthermore, the deployment scheme of this kind of reflectors is implemented by Euler’s rotation theorem combined with rigid-body registration. In addition, the parameter analysis is made to determine which parameters dominate the division number of petals. Finally, the effectiveness of this method in configuration, deployment and optimality together with the improvement in deployment reliability and electrical performance are verified. It is revealed that reflectors designed with this method need fewer petals compared with the existing reflectors of this class, deploy smoothly, have lower deployment failure probability, as well as have higher antenna gains and lower relative sidelobe levels. The results indicate the petal-type solid surface deployable reflector characterized by compact structure, high reliability and good electrical performance can be obtained with the approach proposed in this paper.