• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.230-240
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• 2023

The deployable reflector antenna consists of 24 unit main reflectors, and is mounted on a launch vehicle in a folded state. This satellite reaches the operating orbit and the antenna of satellite is deployed, and performs a mission. The deployable reflector antenna has the advantage of reduce the storage volume of payload of launch vehicle, allowing large space structures to be mounted in the limited storage space of the launch vehicle. In this paper, structural analysis was performed on the main reflector constituting the deployable reflector antenna, and through this, the initial conceptual design was performed. Lightweight composite main reflector was designed by applying a carbon fiber composite and honeycomb core. The laminate pattern and shape were selected as design variables and a design that satisfies the operation conditions was derived. Then, the performance of the lightweight composite reflector antenna was analyzed by performing detailed structural analysis on modal analysis, quasi-static, thermal gradient, and dynamic behavior.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.705-711
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• 2019

Dynamic behaviors of the deployable composite reflector antenna are numerically and experimentally investigated. Equations of the motion are formalized using Kane's equation by considering multibody systems with two degrees of freedom such as folding and twisting angles. To interpret structural deformations of the reflector antenna, the composite reflector is modeled using a beam model with the FSDT(First-order Shear Deformation Theory). To determine design parameters such as a torsional spring stiffness and a damping coefficient depending on deployment duration, an inverted pendulum model is simply applied. Based on the determined parameters, dynamic characteristics of the deployable reflector are investigated. In addition, its results are verified and compared through deployment tests using a gravity compensation device.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2017

In this paper, we reviewed major design parameters for a solid type of deployable antenna and its structural design. We performed modal analysis for a single reflector panel made of aluminum and CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) to confirm the appropriateness of selected materials. We then predicted the elastic modulus of CFRP using the principles of unidirectional composite elasticity stiffness predictions such as the ROM (Rule of Mixture) and HSR (Hart Smith 10% Rule). To optimize the shape of the antenna reflector, a structural stiffness analysis was performed using derived numerical optimization factors. Six structural stiffness analyses were performed using the constructed experimental design method. The resulting optimal shape conditions are proposed to meet the structural stiffness requirements while minimizing weight.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.86-93
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• 2022

Generally, a deployable solar panel is used primarily to achieve sufficient power output to perform the mission. However, temperature distribution on the antenna reflector may increase due to the shading effect induced by the presence of the deployable solar panels. Appropriate thermal design is critical to minimize the thermal deformation of the mesh antenna reflector in harsh on-orbit thermal environments to ensure remote frequency (RF) performance. In this paper, we proposed a dual-surface primary reflector consisting of a mesh antenna and a flexible fabric membrane sheet. This design strategy can contribute to thermal stabilization by using a flexible solar panel on the rear side of membrane sheet to reduce the temperature distribution caused by the deployable solar panel. The effectiveness of the mesh antenna design strategy investigates through on-orbit thermal analysis.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Recently, as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), communication, and signal surveillance missions of spacecraft have become more advanced, research has been actively conducted on the deployable large mesh antenna system with excellent storage efficiency compared to the deployment area, and light weight. Deployable Mesh antennae are characterized by an increase in the number of Openings Per Inch (OPI), which is a measure of mesh weaving density as the mission frequency band increases, and this OPI change directly affects the thermal optical properties of the mesh antenna, so research on this is required. In this paper, to verify the thermal relationship between the optical properties of the mesh and antenna reflector, thermal sensitivity analysis between the mesh and the antenna reflector is performed by in-orbit thermal analysis with various optical characteristics of the mesh based on existing overseas research cases. In addition, the temperature gradient effect of the mesh reflector is analyzed.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.58-65
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• 2018

The dynamic characteristics of the deployable composite parabolic reflector with several panels were numerically and experimentally investigated. The deployment mechanism is designed to efficiently fit in a small volume. The parameters guiding the deployment are determined by considering; the number of panels, folding/twisting angles, and the driving forces of actuating devices. The panels are fabricated using carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs). The zero-gravity simulator is manufactured for the unfolding test. The deployment behaviors of the reflector are finally observed.

• Journal of Satellite, Information and Communications
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.34-39
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• 2010

Due to big demand for satellite and communication service using personal handheld terminals, demand for satellites with huge antennas is increasing correspondingly. While such large antennas are realized by various types of deployable antennas, the reflecting surface is made by many facets irrespective of deploying mechanisms. In order to analyze the faceted-reflector more accurately, an existing ray-tracing method is improved. The algorithm allows the rays to cross each other, which is the main characteristic of the faceted-reflector, and takes unevenness of amplitude and phase over the aperture plane into consideration. For the study of the effect of facet configuration, facet generating algorithm is devised. From the analysis algorithm and the facet-generating algorithm, it has been found that the number of facets in a radial direction affects both directivity and sidelobe level. On the other hand, the number of facets in a circumferential direction affects sidelobe level only.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.603-609
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• 2017

In the deployable solid surface antennas, the effects on the performances of antenna due to the structural errors that occur during the deployment are analyzed. The deployable solid surface antennas employed in a satellite are launched in folded configuration and those are deployed in the space environment, and the effects on the antenna performance are calculated depending on the type of surface errors. When the deviation error occurs in one panel, the degradation of performance appears in the side where the incomplete deployment of panel occurs. By assuming that the panel error distribution is in cosine function, the effect of errors are calculated and analyzed with regard to the types and the magnitude of the error. If the antena panel error is uniform, the gain is reduced and pattern is symmetric. For the panel error of cosine 1 or 3 cycle, the main lobe tilts while the pattern is symmetric and the gain reduces for 2 or 4 cycle error.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.94-101
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• 2019

The dynamic characteristics of the composite reflector panels are numerically and experimentally investigated. A dynamics model of the panel is analytically developed based on a deployment mechanism of the antenna. The deployment is passively activated using elastic energy of a spring with two rotational degrees of freedom. Using the flexible multi-body dynamic analysis ADAMS, dynamic behavior of the panels such as velocities, deformations, as well as reaction forces during the deployment, are investigated in the gravity and zero-gravity cases. The reflector panel is manufactured using carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) and its deployment characteristics are experimentally observed using a zero-gravity deployment test. The impact response and vibration problems that occur during deployment of the antenna panel have been identified and reliably deployed using dampers.

• International Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2020

A deployment mechanism is designed to stow into a small volume efficiently. The panels are fabricated by carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs). The parameters for the deployment are determined by considering the number of panels, the folding/twisting angles, and the driving force for a deployment device. In addition, a surface accuracy of the manufactured reflector is measured through a photogrammetry methodology. The deployment behavior of CFRP reflector is observed by using the zero-gravity device which compensates the gravity effect during the deployment. The zero-gravity device is constructed wire, motor, controller and loadcell. During the deployment of the reflector panel, the wire and motor compensate for its weight by the feedback process of the controller. Tests result show that a zero-gravity device compensates for the weight of the panel during the deployment of the CFRP reflector.