TY - GEN
T1 - Design of lightweight deployable antennas using the tensegrity principle
AU - Krishnan, Sudarshan
AU - Li, Bingyan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Large-size antennas are effective to harness significant amounts of electrical energy in order to enhance the functioning of a spacecraft. Since a rocket can only propel a spacecraft with low volume and mass into space, it becomes desirable that antennas be lightweight and have a high deployed-To-stowed ratio. A tensegrity structure comprising of cables and struts can greatly reduce the antenna mass and stowage volume. The tensegrity principle has been successfully applied to the design of cable domes in terrestrial applications such as stadia and sports arena roofs. This paper presents a new design for an antenna that is referred to herein as deployable tensegrity antenna (DTA). The modified features of the new cable-strut system and the key challenges that need to be overcome before establishing the design as a space antenna are discussed. The design enables the antenna to change focus so as to increase its adaptability and range. Static and dynamic structural behavior are examined. Furthermore, DTA has the potential to significantly enhance the performance of space antennas with appropriate control of cable stiffness to ensure accurate measurements and data collection. This research is intended to open new design possibilities for use of the tensegrity principle, modeling, analysis, and design of deployable outer-space applications.
AB - Large-size antennas are effective to harness significant amounts of electrical energy in order to enhance the functioning of a spacecraft. Since a rocket can only propel a spacecraft with low volume and mass into space, it becomes desirable that antennas be lightweight and have a high deployed-To-stowed ratio. A tensegrity structure comprising of cables and struts can greatly reduce the antenna mass and stowage volume. The tensegrity principle has been successfully applied to the design of cable domes in terrestrial applications such as stadia and sports arena roofs. This paper presents a new design for an antenna that is referred to herein as deployable tensegrity antenna (DTA). The modified features of the new cable-strut system and the key challenges that need to be overcome before establishing the design as a space antenna are discussed. The design enables the antenna to change focus so as to increase its adaptability and range. Static and dynamic structural behavior are examined. Furthermore, DTA has the potential to significantly enhance the performance of space antennas with appropriate control of cable stiffness to ensure accurate measurements and data collection. This research is intended to open new design possibilities for use of the tensegrity principle, modeling, analysis, and design of deployable outer-space applications.
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U2 - 10.1061/9780784481899.084
DO - 10.1061/9780784481899.084
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85089711579
T3 - Earth and Space 2018: Engineering for Extreme Environments - Proceedings of the 16th Biennial International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments
SP - 888
EP - 899
BT - Earth and Space 2018
A2 - Malla, Ramesh B.
A2 - Goldberg, Robert K.
A2 - Roberts, Alaina Dickason
PB - American Society of Civil Engineers
T2 - 16th Biennial International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments, Earth and Space 2018
Y2 - 9 April 2018 through 12 April 2018
ER -