Form-finding design of cable-mesh reflector antennas with minimal length configuration

Yang, Guigeng; Deng, Yang; Zhang, Yiqun; Du, Jiling

doi:10.1016/j.ast.2016.11.010

Cited by 49 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Compared with non-prestressed structures, prestressed structures are more efficient, economical, and energy-saving [35][36][37]. Since prestressed cables can increase the stiffness when applied to the monolithic tensioned structures, they are generally used in space deployable antennas [38,39]. Previous studies have not used prestressed cables in fully steerable telescope structures, but prestressed cables are an effective method to reduce the weight of a structure.…”

Section: Advances In Civil Engineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of 110 m Aperture Fully Steerable Radio Telescope Prestressed Back Frame Structure Based on a Genetic Algorithm

Gao

Zhang

Sun

2021

Advances in Civil Engineering

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Radio telescopes play an important role in lunar exploration projects, manned space flight projects, and navigation systems. China is constructing a giant 110 m aperture ground-based fully steerable radio telescope in Qitai County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In this paper, a 110 m aperture fully steerable radio telescope prestressed back frame structure is proposed and optimized to improve the reflector accuracy and to reduce the weight of the telescope. First, prestressed cables are introduced into the back frame structure, and three innovative cable layout schemes are presented. Second, for stress state analysis, the wind pressure distribution on the main reflector is explored using wind tunnel experiments. Third, some improvements in genetic algorithms for addressing computational complexity are explained. Finally, the effects of prestressed cables on the weight reduction and reflector accuracy improvement are analysed. Additionally, in order to evaluate the safety of the prestressed back frame structure, its strength has been checked, and the internal force and displacement under static conditions and in earthquakes are interpreted in detail.

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Section: Advances In Civil Engineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of 110 m Aperture Fully Steerable Radio Telescope Prestressed Back Frame Structure Based on a Genetic Algorithm

Gao

Zhang

Sun

2021

Advances in Civil Engineering

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“…Unfortunately, researches on the pre-control of the onorbit thermal deformation of mesh reflectors are very few [18]- [21]. Yang et al [10], [11] proposed equal-tension form-finding methods to improve the shape stability of mesh reflectors, in which the surface shape stability was considered to be dependent on the tension uniformity of the cables. The viewpoint is not comprehensive, because the thermal deformation is also dependent on the structural material and geometry parameters.…”

Section: B Related Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…On one hand, the initial surface accuracy is determined by the configuration of the mesh reflector. Many researchers, such as Tibert [6], Shi et al [7], Morterolle et al [8], Yang et al [9]- [11], have researched the configuration design methods of mesh reflectors and obtained…”

Section: Introduction a Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface Shape Stability Design of Mesh Reflector Antennas Considering Space Thermal Effects

et al. 2020

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On-orbit periodic thermal loads degrade the reflector surface accuracy of AstroMesh antennas. To address this problem, a surface shape stability design method is proposed to passively pre-control the on-orbit thermal deformation of mesh reflectors, in which the structural parameters are properly designed to make the internal forces of the whole structure change coordinately and the surface shape of cable-mesh antennas insensitive to thermal loads. First, mathematical models of mechanical-thermal matching (MTM) are established for AstroMesh reflectors, in which an MTM model is developed for the cable net structure and the reflector membrane is equivalent to a cable net structure according to the force balance and thermal deformation coordination relationships. Then, based on the mathematical models, a surface shape stability design strategy is presented for AstroMesh antennas to properly design the cross-sectional dimensions of the cables. Finally, typical AstroMesh reflector structures are designed using the proposed method and simulation results show that the thermal deformations of the obtained AstroMesh reflectors are quite small under the whole temperature range. INDEX TERMS Mesh reflector antennas, thermal loads, surface shape stability, mechanical-thermal Matching (MTM).

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“…The force density method (FDM), [7][8][9] the dynamic relaxation method, [10][11][12] and the nonlinear finite element method are often employed in this research area. The FDM was already used in the form-finding for reflectors by Tanka et al, 13 Morterolle et al, 14 Yang et al, 15 and Maddio et al 16 Yang et al 17 developed an enhanced form-finding approach based on FDM for designing cables with uniform tension. Wang et al 18 elaborated the basic principle of using the dynamic relaxation method for finding the reflector form and validated the practicality of this method with two types of Astromesh reflectors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new source finding and tracking analysis approach for the active reflector of five-hundred-meter aperture spherical telescope

Chen

Zhang

Qian

et al. 2023

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G:

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The FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope) is the world’s largest single-aperture radio telescope. During operation, FAST needs to follow the observed celestial body to adjust displacements, which can be divided into two processes: the source finding and tracking. In this paper, a new numerical method based on Vector Form Intrinsic Finite Element (VFIFE) is proposed to simulate the source finding and tracking process for FAST’s active reflector. The basic principle of static equilibrium and calculation flow of the sourcing and tracking analysis is proposed, and the finite element program is compiled to analyze the displacement process of the reflector cable-net structure. Then, six typical test conditions are selected to simulate the sourcing and tracking displacement process. The obtained final form in the equilibrium state adheres to the target configuration, demonstrating the applicability of the suggested approach and the correctness of calculation findings. In addition, the change in the actuator length and the structural force distribution can be simultaneously derived. These values serve as a vital theoretical foundation for FAST’s practical operation and regulation.

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Form-finding design of cable-mesh reflector antennas with minimal length configuration

Cited by 49 publications

References 14 publications

Optimization of 110 m Aperture Fully Steerable Radio Telescope Prestressed Back Frame Structure Based on a Genetic Algorithm

Optimization of 110 m Aperture Fully Steerable Radio Telescope Prestressed Back Frame Structure Based on a Genetic Algorithm

Surface Shape Stability Design of Mesh Reflector Antennas Considering Space Thermal Effects

A new source finding and tracking analysis approach for the active reflector of five-hundred-meter aperture spherical telescope

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