Design And Analysis Of Deployable Annular Tensegrity Antenna

With the deep development of aerospace exploration, deployable tensegrity mechanism has become an important research direction of space mechanisms. Compared to traditional hinged deployable tensegrity, it has advantages of simple structure, light quality and high reliability. It gives full play to the characteristics of lightweight of tensegrity and the widely adaptability of deployable structure. Because of broad possible applications of this mechanism especially in the field of aerospace, it’s time to carry on the theoretical analysis and research to clear its characteristics, combined with the actual prototype development.This article defines the basic parameters of 2n-bar annular tensegrity and establishes the mathematical analysis model of 2n-bar annular tensegrity. The deploying process of tensegrity is equivalent to a continuous transformation of the states of internal force equilibrium. Using the force density method, that the internal force equilibrium condition based on the basic parameters is obtained. It is established of numerical solving method of the annular tensegrity to get the basic parameters. Then a theoretical basis is provided for parameter analysis of tensegrity’s deploying process.Using the parameter equation of annular tensegrity, it is analysed of solution domain depending on length of strings and bars. The influence of the strings’ length on the basic parameters is researched. It is obtained that the change rule of basic parameters in the deploying process. Afterwards, the selection scope of design parameters is determined. Besides, Simulation and motion analysis is carried on the annular tensegrity.On the basis of theoretical analysis, the program of annular tensegrity antenna design is put forward. Locking devices inside the bar is analyzed with mechanics. The finite element software is used to study the characteristics of deformation of reinforced tensegrity structure, to verify the validity of antenna design.Principle prototype is developed. Then the function test of bar is completed, as well as the experiment of locking device. The deploying test is carried out on the prototype, to verify the feasibility of deployable annular tensegrity antenna. Through the stiffness test of the prototype, the natural frequency in the free modal state is figured out.