Abstract:

Inspired by the structural configuration of ribbed series cable domes, a novel rib-patterned deployable antenna structure is proposed in this paper. First, a basic deployable module with driving-locking joint is designed. Through assembling basic deployable modules, the stretching arm is constructed and used as the radial support rib. Then, the rib-patterned deployable structure is established by combining multiple stretching arms and loop cables. In fully deployed state, this deployable antenna structure can be regarded as a cable-beam system, and the modal analysis of this system is conducted accordingly through finite element simulation. It is found that the proposed deployable structure displays relatively higher structural stiffness compared with a cable-rib tension deployable antenna structure of the same size. On this basis, for a large aperture rib-patterned deployable antenna structure design scheme, deployment simulations of the single stretching arm and the entire antenna structure are carried out respectively. The results show that the proposed structure can be successfully deployed in place and locked, which further demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of his antenna scheme. This study demonstrates that the newly proposed rib-patterned deployable antenna structure combines the advantages of the high rigidity of truss-based deployable structures and the high fold ratio of rib-based deployable structures. It provides a valuable reference for the structural design of large-aperture antennas in the future.

Key words: rib-patterned structure, antenna, deployable structure, structural design, deployment simulation