Quasi-static shape adjustment of a 15 meter diameter space antennaA 15 meter diameter Hoop-Column antenna has been analyzed and tested to study shape adjustment of the reflector surface. The Hoop-Column antenna concept employs pretensioned cables and mesh to produce a paraboloidal reflector surface. Fabrication errors and thermal distortions may significantly reduce surface accuracy and consequently degrade electromagnetic performance. Thus, the ability to adjust the surface shape is desirable. The shape adjustment algorithm consisted of finite element and least squares error analyses to minimize the surface distortions. Experimental results verified the analysis. Application of the procedure resulted in a reduction of surface error by 38 percent. Quasi-static shape adjustment has the potential for on-orbit compensation for a variety of surface shape distortions.
Document ID
19870046359
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Belvin, W. Keith (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Herstrom, Catherine L. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Edighoffer, Harold H. (Edighoffer, Inc. Newport News, VA, United States)