Double-Layer Cable-Net Structures for Deployable Umbrella Reflectors

Abstract

The umbrella cable-net structure is one of the most popular forms for deployable space reflectors and has been successfully applied to many in-orbit deployable antennas. The umbrella ribs only provide open support for the cable net, so designing the geometric shape and the internal tension of the umbrella cable-net structure is complex. This paper suggests several double-layer cable-net structures for a deployable umbrella reflector. First, a typical composition of the umbrella reflector was introduced and the design basis of its geometric topology was further discussed. Then, two methods for the static equilibrium analysis of the cable-net structure were introduced for the mechanical calculation of the cable-net structure. Next, three types of the cable-net structure—wedge-shaped/wedge-shaped (W/W), triangular/triangular (T/T), and triangular/wedge-shaped (T/W)—were put forward. The three cable-net types were applied to a reflector and their performances were analyzed and compared with each other to demonstrate their feasibility and applicability.