Design, fabrication, testing of smart materials actuated deployable space antenna

• Main Author: Pan, Zhankun
• Other Authors: Liu Yong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Functional and smart materials
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/16994
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

With vast changes in spacecraft developments over its short history, a new and cheaper method was needed for deployment kinematics systems such as parabolic antenna reflectors. Historically, meshed surface reflectors that resembled folded umbrellas had been used. But with the rapid commercialization of space, smaller launch platforms and satellites have demanded much higher efficiency from all space equipments than what that can be achieved through this incremental approach. Deployable solid surface reflectors have the potential to enable both a large aperture and high frequency operation but are compliant and inherently difficult to fabricate and design to a precise surface contour. It is a challenge for engineers to design space systems that have to operate under the hash space environment. The deleterious effects of environment interactions with the systems include degradation of materials, thermal changes, contamination, excitation, radiation damage and induced background interference. Design accommodations must be realistic with minimum impact on performance while maintaining a balance between cost and risk. In this final year project, the author designs components of the solid reflector satellite with optimized dimensions and materials that would ensure that the satellite performs under the natural space and atmospheric environments and structural requirements, within the specifications of Defence Science & Technology Agency. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is the main method used to validate the suggested dimensions and identify any potential failure.