New design modifications of the supporting ring for a large deployable space reflector

Though theoretical and experimental studies of the design of large deployable antenna reflectors have already been carried out for quite a long time, the results obtained in this area of research still attract a lively interest and have good application prospects. In the present paper, two novel design modifications are described for the symmetric (i.e. with circular apertures) radio telescopes. The novelty consists in that improved stiffness and stability have been obtained by combining two conical pantograph systems and thus getting the whole hinged-bar structure consisting of cylindrical and sliding hinges only. Three FE models of the supporting ring structure are constructed and compared with one another using the NASTRAN FEA software. The degrees of freedom of hinges are simulated in local coordinate systems. A static, modal and buckling analysis had been done to investigate, strength and stiffness characteristics.