• 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 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 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 for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.10
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• pp.691-699
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• 2022

Large aperture antennas with long focal lengths in space have important application for telecommunications, Earth observation and science missions. This paper aims to understand the dynamics of deployment of large mesh antennas and to provide a multibody model for determining the driving forces for the design of reflectors and booms. The modular deployable reflector and boom are designed based on the deployment unit cell. A multibody dynamic model is formulated with Kane's equation and simulated using the pseudo upper triangular decomposition (PUTD) method for solving the constrained problem. Based on the multibody dynamic model, the kinetics of the deployment, the motor driving forces, and the structural dynamic deformation are investigated.

• 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.

• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.219-225
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• 2024

It is essential to develop a light-weight, high-performance structure for the deployable reflector antenna, which is the payload of a reconnaissance satellite, considering launch and orbital operation performance. Among them, the composite main reflector is a key component that constitutes a deployable reflector antenna. In particular, the development of a high-performance main reflector is required to acquire high-quality satellite images after agile attitude control maneuvers during satellite missions. To develop main reflector, the initial design of the main reflector was confirmed considering the structural performance according to the laminate stacking design and material properties of the composite main reflector that constitutes the deployable reflector antenna. Based on the initial design, four types of composite main reflectors were manufactured with the variable for manufacturing process. As variables for manufacturing process, the curing process of the composite structure, the application of adhesive film between the carbon fiber composite sheet and the honeycomb core, and the venting path inside the sandwich composite were selected. After manufacture main reflector, weight measurement, non-destructive testing(NDT), surface error measurement, and modal test were performed on the four types of main reflectors produced. By selecting a manufacturing process that does not apply adhesive film and includes venting path, for a composite main reflector with light weight and structural performance, we developed and verified a main reflector that can be applied to the SAR(Synthetic Aperture Rader) satellite.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.68-76
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• 2022

The purpose of this paper was to design the cable networks for mesh reflector antennas, considering the flexibility of structures. An effective form-find methodology is proposed. The whole parts of the cable networks are described by the absolute nodal coordinate formulation. Additionally, nonlinear deformation of the cable can be obtained. The form-finding analysis of the reflector with standard configuration is performed, to validate the proposed methodology. The truss ring structure is numerically modeled using the frame elements. To consider the flexibility of the truss ring as well as the cable net structure, an iteration analysis between the truss ring and the cable net under tensional forces is also performed in the form-finding process. The finial configuration of the reflector with tensioned cable networks is demonstrated.

• 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 Space Technology and Applications
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.364-374
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• 2021

This research discusses the change in radio frequency (RF) characteristics according to the number of Gores on the deployable mesh antennas for potential micro-satellite applications. The deployable type of lightweight mesh antenna can be used for various space missions such as communication/SAR/ SIGINT. In order to implement an ideal curvature of antenna surface, sufficient number of antenna rib structures are required. However, the increase in antenna ribs affects various design factors of the antenna system, especially total system mass, complexity of deployable mechanism and reliability. In this paper, the proper number of ribs for the mesh antenna were derived by comparison of electro-magnetic (EM) simulation results of example of antenna model in accordance with the various number of ribs.

• 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.