Optimizing accuracy of a parabolic cylindrical deployable antenna mechanism based on stiffness analysis

Accuracy of the fitted surface is of great importance to the performance of deployable antennas utilized in space. This paper proposes a stiffness analysis based fitting accuracy optimization method for achieving the optimal parameters of the parabolic cylindrical deployable antenna mechanism. The stiffness matrix of the proposed cylindrical antenna mechanism is established by assembling the stiffness of beams and tension cables. Structural deformations of the mechanism are calculated where the tensioned cable is substituted by a 2-node truss element and an equivalent force acting on the joint. Consideration of the tensity of tension cables, namely tensioned or slack, is transformed into a typical linear complementarity problem. Comparison between structural deformations of the mechanism fixed at different points is performed. Sensitivities of the geometric and structural parameters on fitting accuracy are investigated. Influence of force of the driven cable on structural deformations of antenna operated in different orbits is conducted. A fitting optimization method is proposed to minimize the structural deformations subject to constraints on volume and mass. Simulation result shows that the fitting accuracy of the antenna mechanism is improved significantly through the optimization. The proposed method can be utilized for the optimal design of other deployable mechanisms constructed by joining rigid links.     

Design and analysis of truss deployable antenna mechanism based on a novel symmetric hexagonal profile division method

As the deployment, supporting, and stability mechanisms of satellite antennas, space-deployable mechanisms play a key role in the field of aerospace. In order to design truss deployable antenna supporting mechanisms with large folding rate, high accuracy, easy deployment and strong stability, aiming at the geometric division of the parabolic reflector, a novel method based on symmetric hexagonal division and its corresponding modular truss deployable antenna mechanism is proposed, and the original method based on asymmetric triangular division and its corresponding mechanisms are presented for comparative analysis. Then, the screw theory is employed to analyze the mobility of different mechanisms. Furthermore, the improved three-dimensional mesh method is used to divide the reflector surface of a large parabolic antenna designed by the two different methods, and the profile accuracy and the type of links are taken as the evaluation indexes to quantitatively analyze the division results. Finally, a three-dimensional model of the modular deployable mechanism based on the symmetric hexagonal design is developed, and the deployable mechanisms with different configurations based on the two design methods are compared and analyzed from the mechanical perspective. The research results provide a good theoretical reference for the design of deployable truss antenna mechanisms and their application in the aerospace field.     

大型可展开天线太空结构频率预测

由于空间大型可展开天线口径较大,在地面模拟太空环境难度高,使得直接在天线原型上进行性能测试非常困难或不可能。为了解决该问题,提出了一种“两步法”,利用空间大型可展开天线的缩比模型进行地面性能测试,以预测天线原型在太空中的工作性能。据此对周边桁架可展开天线太空工作的结构固有频率进行性能预测研究,首先推导了结构固有频率的相似准则,然后考虑结构参数畸变的影响,得出其相似性经验公式,最后研究了温度变化对结构频率的影响,得出了预测大型天线太空工作性能的经验公式。仿真结果验证了该方法的有效性,该方法可应用于其他空间结构的设计和性能预测。     

Design and analysis of a truss deployable antenna mechanism based on a 3UU-3URU unit

Space deployable structures with large calibers, high accuracy, and large folding ratios are indispensable equipment in the aerospace field. Given that the single-DOF 3RR-3RRR deployable unit cannot be fully folded, this study proposes a 3UU-3URU deployable unit with two kinds of DOF: folding movement and orientation adjustment. First, based on the G-K formula, the DOF of the 3UU-3URU unit is analyzed. Then, the 3UU-3URU unit is used to construct a deployable truss antenna with a curved surface, and the DOF of the whole deployable antenna containing multiple 3UU-3URU units is calculated. The structural design of a deployable antenna with two loops is carried out with specific parameters and geometric relations. Next, a DOF simulation of a basic combination unit composed of three 3UU-3URU units is performed. Finally, a prototype of the basic combination unit is manufactured, and the DOF of the mechanism is experimentally verified.     

Type synthesis of deployable mechanisms for ring truss antenna based on constraint-synthesis method

Space deployable antenna is the key equipment in realizing the communication and data transmission between the spacecraft and the earth. In order to enrich the configurations of deployable antennas, the type synthesis of deployable mechanisms for ring truss antenna is conducted in this study. First, the principle of the constraint-synthesis method based on screw theory is briefly described, the structure of the ring truss deployable antenna and its folding principle are analyzed, and the ring truss mechanism is divided into upper edges, lower edges and linkages. Then, based on the constraint-synthesis method, the type synthesis of the basic unit edges is carried out, a series of basic unit mechanisms are obtained from combining the basic unit edge mechanisms, and five mechanism units with fewer joints and simple structures are selected. Furthermore, simulation models of the five ring truss deployable mechanisms are built in Solidworks and Matlab software, and the deploying process is verified by the movement simulation. Finally, mechanism characteristics of the five mechanisms are analyzed and discussed, and a prototype is manufactured, verifying the analysis in this paper. This research provides a new way for the type synthesis of spatial deployable mechanisms, and the ring truss deployable mechanisms obtained in this study can be well applied in the field of aerospace.     

一种空间超大型可展开柔性聚光器

面向空间太阳能电站（SSPS）对大口径太阳能聚光器的应用需求,提出一种超大型、轻量化、高精度的空间可展开柔性聚光器的新构型。采取理论建模、计算仿真、优化设计相结合的方法对其抛物面构型原理、展开机构折展原理、展开态结构稳定性、动态聚焦精度等问题进行研究,并完成大口径可展开柔性聚光器的设计。提出了基于多层弹性花瓣镜体复合结构的大口径柔性聚光器优化创新设计方法。由于采用薄板柔索结构,本聚光器具有精度高、展收体积比大、质量轻、在线控制简单等优点,为空间太阳能电站千米级聚光器提供一种创新设计方法。     

空间大型星载抛物面天线研究进展

抛物面天线作为星载天线的重要组成部分,在深空探测、移动通信、国防事业、气象监测等方面均具有广泛应用,近年来随着上述学科的快速发展,抛物面天线的研究也越来越受到人们的重视。针对空间大型星载抛物面天线的发展与需求,首先系统地概括了国外星载抛物球面天线的发展现状,综述了刚性、网状以及充气式星载抛物球面天线,对各类星载抛物球面天线的结构、性能进行了较为详细的描述和分析,对国内在该领域的部分研究成果进行了简述。然后梳理了星载抛物柱面天线的发展,对国内外具有代表性的抛物柱面天线进行了介绍,对抛物球面天线和抛物柱面天线进行了参数对比与分析。接下来对近年来针对星载抛物面天线的相关技术进行了介绍。最后对星载抛物面天线的发展趋势做了简要分析与预测。     

星载平面可展天线支撑桁架的结构效率优化

针对折展结构性能存在多指标且这些指标之间又相互制约的特点,把结构效率引入到可展结构的优化设计中,应用多因素正交试验法对一种空间可展开平板天线支撑桁架的优化问题进行了研究。对其关键几何设计参数进行了分析,建立了桁架结构的优化数学模型,以结构效率最大化作为优化目标,对可展桁架进行了结构优化,得到了支撑桁架各杆件的设计参数。结果表明:结构效率综合考虑了质量和刚度的影响,使结构质量和刚度同时得到优化;长宽比(l/w)是影响可展桁架结构性能的主要因素,对不同优化目标产生影响的次要因素有所不同;截面积对结构效率影响不显著(置信度p=90%),在相同杆长参数配置下,等截面可展桁架的结构效率仅次于变截面方案,但工程经济性最佳。该研究方法有助于在概念设计阶段从系统设计的角度进行空间桁架结构的快速设计与优化。     

一类基于四面体组合单元的模块化构架式可展开天线机构

针对现有基于四面体单元的构架式天线机构结构复杂、收拢率低、运动副数量多等问题，基于3RR-3RRR四面体组合单元和基于3RR-3URU四面体对称组合单元分别提出了两种新型模块化可展结构。以3个组合单元组成的模块化结构为分析对象，首先，详细介绍了模块化结构的组成及虎克铰轴线布置，并利用组合单元本身的自由度数目及性质，采用拆杆-等效-复原的思想，应用螺旋理论和G-K公式分别对提出的两种模块化结构进行了自由度分析，得到了自由度数目及性质。其次，应用Adams动力学仿真软件对两种模块化结构进行运动仿真，仿真结果验证了自由度分析的正确性。以完全展开和完全收拢时机构所占的空间体积比值表征该机构的收拢率，计算现有基于四面体单元的非模块化机构与提出的模块化机构的收拢率。最后，对比分析非模块化机构与模块化机构的自由度数目、运动副数目及收拢率。分析结果表明，基于3RR-3URU四面体对称组合单元的模块化结构既能实现较大收拢率，自由度及运动副数目也相对减少，且组成大型天线时杆件类型较少。研究结果为该类模块化构架式可展天线结构的设计与分析提供一定理论依据。     

3R-3URU可展单元机构及其在构架式可展天线中的应用

提出了一种空间单自由度(DOF)可展单元机构3R-3URU。首先,基于螺旋理论和修正的G-K公式分析了RURUR单闭环机构的自由度,建立了该机构中主动关节和被动关节速度之间的解析关系式,基于此关系式和3个RURUR机构共用首尾转动副的结构特点推导了3R-3URU单元机构的自由度,得到了3R-3URU机构具有1个自由度时各运动副的方向和位置满足的几何关系式。其次,将3R-3URU机构应用于3RR-3RRR四面体可展单元及其组成的球面构架式可展天线中,得到了具有收拢和调姿两种自由度的新型可展机构。最后,利用Adams软件对3R-3URU可展单元机构的自由度和其在四面体构架式可展天线中的应用进行了仿真验证。该3R-3URU可展单元机构具有单自由度、铰链种类少、结构简单等优点,可用于曲面构架式可展天线的支撑机构中,实现大折叠比。     

构架式可展天线机构自由度分析——拆杆等效法

针对四面体构架式可展天线机构的多环耦合特性,提出了一种空间多环耦合机构的自由度分析方法——拆杆等效法。首先拆除四面体基本可展单元机构的耦合约束链,将剩余部分视为一个并联机构,然后应用螺旋理论分析各输出节点的自由度数目及性质,进而构造各输出节点与定节点之间的等效串联运动链,最后复原拆除的耦合约束链得到四面体基本可展单元的等效机构,应用修正的G-K公式计算等效机构的自由度数目,并基于反螺旋理论分析等效机构的自由度性质,从而获得四面体基本可展单元的运动特性。根据四面体基本可展单元的等效机构及其组合方式对最小组合单元及大尺寸构架式可展天线机构的结构进行了化简,并根据其几何特征约束方程推导了最小组合单元及大尺寸构架式可展天线机构的自由度。建立了由27个四面体基本可展单元组成的构架式可展天线机构的仿真模型,对该机构的自由度进行了验证,结果表明提出的拆杆等效法求得的自由度正确,为进一步分析此类天线机构的运动学和动力学奠定了基础,同时为其他类型的空间多环耦合机构的自由度分析提供了一种新的思路。     

ATS-6 Parabolic Antenna for Mounting Solar Cells

Calculations are made to obtain the raw electrical power that can be generated by using an ATS-6 type deployable parabolic dish as a surface for mounting solar cells without seriously interfering with its normal function as an antenna. A minimum of a few hundred watts to a maximum of a few kilowatts are generated during the apparent course of the Sun around the spacecraft. Academically, it seems that deployable solar cell panels along with their booms can be avoided.     

空间对称型7R机构运动特性分析及组合应用

提出了一种空间对称型7R机构，可利用此机构组合构造空间可展开机构。通过旋量拓扑图分析了其整体自由度，得到了其运动副轴线方位变化时整体机构自由度数目的变化情况；基于反螺旋理论分析了运动副轴线方位不同的情况下运动输出构件的自由度数目和性质，并针对其瞬时性做了判别，发现其在不同运动副轴线方位布置情况下会出现局部自由度与瞬时自由度；分析了机构在不同驱动情况下的奇异特性，得到了机构在不同的驱动下处于奇异位形时的几何条件；最后选定自由度为1时的空间对称型7R机构组合构造了一类单自由度多棱锥型空间可展开机构，通过设置其运动副轴线方位，可以使其具有较大收拢率，同时当机构完全展开时，奇异特性使得其具有较好的力学性能。通过多个棱锥型空间可展开机构的组合，可以构造出新型大尺度空间可展开机构，在航空航天领域具有较好的应用前景。     

Deployment dynamic analysis of deployable antennas considering thermal effect

Dynamic analysis of flexible multibody systems is complex. Several successful methods have been demonstrated. However, few works discussed the dynamic performance of the flexible multibody under different temperatures. This paper uses the absolute nodal coordinate formulation to analyze the flexible body dynamics of deployment structures under different temperatures to simulate space environments. The dynamic equations of finite element in temperature field are developed. Then a computer-aided simulation of flexible multibody systems in temperature field is implemented. A general four-bar mechanism under different temperatures as a simulation example is demonstrated, and the deployment characteristics of a special four-bar mechanism as a basic module of the hoop truss deployable antenna is analyzed under different temperatures in order to evaluate the dynamic performance of the deployable antenna in space environments. The simulation results indicate the influence factors of deployment dynamic characteristics include the structural form, material properties, geometric parameters and deployment planning in ambient and thermal/vacuum environments.     

A novel in-plane mode rotary ultrasonic motor

Ultrasonic motors have the merits of high ratio of torque to volume, high positioning precision, intrinsic holding torque, etc., compared to the conventional electromagnetic motors. There have been several potential applications for this type of motor in aerospace exploration, but bearings and bonding mechanism of the piezoelectric ring in the motors limit the performance of them in the space operation conditions. It is known that the Langevin type transducer has excel- lent energy efficiency and reliability. Hence using the Langevin type transducer in ultrasonic motors may improve the reliability of piezoelectric motors for space applications. In this study, a novel in-plane mode rotary ultrasonic motor is designed, fabricated, and characterized. The proposed motor operates in in-plane vibration mode which is excited by four Langevin-type bending vibra- tors separately placed around a ring-shaped stator. Two tapered rotors are assembled to the inner ring of the stator and clamped together by a screw nut. In order to make the motor more stable and convenient to fix, a thin cylindrical support is placed under the stator ring. Due to its no-bearing structure and Langevin transducer excitation, the prototype ultrasonic motor may operate well in aeronautic and astronautic environments.     

Visual analysis in a deployable antenna experiment [satellite antenna]

To establish a large deployable antenna, monitoring and collimation are essential for reliable and precise deployment. We have developed an analysis method to detect shifts in several images, in which the combination of cross-correlations between images and approximations at subpixel precision enables us to detect shifts in images with a precision of up to 0.01 pixels. The LDREX mission; which was a preliminary experiment for a large deployable antenna, ETS-VIII, was performed in December 2000. During this experiment, anomalies occurred in the antenna, and deployment was aborted. To understand the cause of the anomalies, we used our visual analysis method. Using this analysis, we detected vibrating features in the antenna, which were useful for explaining the anomalies. We outline our visual analysis method and discuss its application in monitoring the deployable antenna.     

Parameter optimization for torsion spring of deployable solar array system with multiple clearance joints considering rigid–flexible coupling dynamics

In this paper, four novel evaluation indices and corresponding hierarchical optimization strategies are proposed for a deployable solar array system considering panel flexibility and joint clearance. The deployable solar array model consists of a rigid main-body, two panels and four key mechanisms, containing torsion spring mechanism, closed cable loop mechanism, latch mechanism and attitude adjustment mechanism. Rigid and flexible components are established by Nodal Coordinate Formulation and A...     

四棱锥单元平板式可展开收拢机构的

 基于7杆闭环机构提出一种新型四棱锥单元,其可作为一种基本可展机构单元,组合成大型可展机构。利用机构学方法研究,分析了单元机构的自由度、运动学和奇异性,给出了单元组合方法并基于四棱锥单元机构设计了一平板式可展开收拢机构,最后计算了机构的伸缩比。分析结果表明,这种单元机构组合方便简单,组合后的机构自由度为1,便于机构的展开收拢控制。当机构完全展开时,由于其奇异特性,机构有较好的力学性能。利用这种单元可以设计出新型大型可展开收拢机构,在航空航天领域有很好的应用前景。     

车用跨声速离心压气机设计

随着内燃机功率密度的提高,需要更高的增压压比.采用全三维气动设计技术,设计了最大压比为4.0的车用跨声速离心压气机(可应用于微型燃气轮机),并将此应用于某型增压器的改进.针对跨声速流动特征,分析了相应的设计原则和方法.与某型发动机的配机试验结果表明,采用新设计的离心压气机后,在额定功率下,油耗下降4.1 g/(kW.h),涡轮进口温度下降35 K.      

Reliability design optimization of composite structures based on PSO together with FEA

The present work aims to develop a method for reliability-based optimum design of composite structures. A procedure combining particle swarm optimization (PSO) and finite element analysis (FEA) has been proposed. Numerical examples for the reliability design optimization (RDO) of a laminate and a composite cylindrical shell are worked out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. Then a design for composite pressure vessels is studied. The advantages and necessity of RDO over the conventional equi-strength design are addressed. Examples show that the proposed method has good stability and is efficient in dealing with the probabilistic optimal design of composite structures. It may serve as an effective tool to optimize other complicated structures with uncertainties.