Design method of cable network including compression member for large deployable antenna

Abstract

Antenna surface forming by cable network is an essential design method to achieve high performance for communication services or high resolution observation for radio astronomy. The precision of the surface can be determined by a facet approximation error depending on their size. Uniform tensile force distribution among cables is measured by adjusting tension ratio of the edge cables and the center cables of the reflector. In general, the tensile forces of the edge cables become several times greater than those of the center cables. Therefore, total strain energy of the cables is decided based on the tensile force distribution including the edge cables. When the number of the cables of the network increases, the total strain energy of the cables raises. Consequently, a support structure, e.g., truss rib structures or hoop structures, must be improved its rigidity to prevent deformation of the surface. This paper describes a new surface forming concept in which the cable network is assembled by tensile and compression members. Several compression members are equipped instead of tensile cables. As a result, the total strain energy of the cables can be reduced, and the retentive force applied to the support structure can also be reduced by using this method.

Keywords

• space structure
• compression members
• cable network system
• structural analysis