Deployable Structural Network for Space Antennas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deployable antenna structures for aerospace applications face challenges in achieving stability and rigidity, especially in weightlessness, where uniform stress distribution and synchronized deployment are critical, and existing solutions lack clarity on synchronization mechanisms and tensional state creation.
Innovation Solution
A deployable structural network composed of interwoven carbon fibre tapes with flexible epoxy resin and lubricating films, configured in a paraboloid geometry, using a mould with specific anchoring and tensioning elements to ensure uniform tension and prevent tangling, coupled with a metallized mesh or collapsible membrane for various applications like communication antennas or reflectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a deployable structure is designed to be compact for launch, then it can be transported in spacecraft, but it lacks stability and rigidity when deployed
Solution Approach 1:
The structure is divided into multiple six-arm facets that can be independently folded and deployed. Each facet is a modular unit with revolute joints that allow controlled transformation between compact and deployed states, enabling the overall structure to achieve both compact storage and stable deployed configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The structure incorporates revolute joints that enable dynamic transformation between folded and deployed states. Synchronization means are integrated to coordinate the movement of adjacent facets during deployment, ensuring controlled and stable transition while maintaining compact form during launch
2Ease of operation
If deployment force is applied to pivot arms in weightlessness, then the structure can be deployed, but uniform stress distribution is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
Synchronization means are incorporated to provide feedback control during deployment operations. These means monitor and coordinate the movement of adjacent facets, ensuring that deployment forces are distributed uniformly across all pivot arms and facets, achieving consistent stress distribution even in weightless conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The revolute joints are designed to serve multiple functions: enabling pivot movement of arms, providing synchronization between adjacent facets, and distributing deployment forces uniformly. This multi-functionality simplifies the deployment operation while ensuring uniform stress distribution
3Strength
If additional elements are added to guarantee stability and rigidity, then the structure becomes stable when deployed, but the deployment operation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization elements are merged with the structural framework itself. The six-arm facets and revolute joints that provide the deployable structure also inherently provide stability when deployed, eliminating the need for separate, complex stabilization mechanisms while maintaining structural rigidity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a stable and rigid structure that can be uniformly deployed and folded, ensuring consistent stress distribution and effective functionality in aerospace applications, such as communication antennas or reflectors, while preventing tangling and ensuring accurate deployment forces in weightlessness.
Implementation Method 1
interwoven carbon fibre tapes with flexible epoxy resin and lubricating films
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
It relates to a production process of a deployable structural network, of particular application for space antennas, which has the purpose giving stability and rigidity to the deployable structure (20), whilst facilitating its uniform folding and unfolding and equips it with a required working structure. The invention also relates to the mould (1) used and to the network which can be produced by this process, which fundamentally consists of a first framework of tapes (2), a second framework of tapes (3), straps (16) which join both frameworks (2, 3) and the joining elements (22, 8) which connect the tapes (5) to the structure (20).