Initial Shape Finding Problem for Gas-Inflatable Reflector(Machine Elements and Manufacturing)

This paper describes an initial shape-finding problem for a gas-inflatable reflector. The problem is formulated as a problem for finding an initial membrane shape whose deformed shape under prescribed pressure becomes a paraboloid of revolution. The initial shape is described by the even-order power series of the radial coordinate variable. The deformed shape is analyzed by using the finite element method. Furthermore, the prototype with the initial shape that is determined from the numerical calculation result is produced and the deformed shape is measured. The effectiveness of the initial shape is confirmed from the experimental result.