Deployment simulation of inflatable structures based on improved spring-mass system

Abstract

Inflatable membrane antenna structures are applied in spaceflight missions broadly. Fold and deployment simulation of inflatable antenna is the key technology of structure analysis. The simulation method of membrane deployable structure is mentioned based on improved spring-mass system. During structure development, self-contact or collision of membrane film may occur easily. The distinguish rule of self-contact elements is advanced and penalty function method is used to solve this difficult problem. Finite different method is used to solve the motion of system. Membrane inflatable tube is one of most important members for spatial inflatable structure. These time history of inflatable pressure and other gas parameter of each tube part are analyzed. The tube between two hinges is equal to cantilever beams and the moment tending to straighten the tube is obtained. This deployable moment is equal to drive forces which subjected to the spring-mass system. Numerical examples are presented to show that analyze method can simulate the 3D deployment motion of inflatable tube. Compared to the experiment result from the reference, the validity of the method is shown and the analysis precision is high. Then initial state and fold state of main members of inflatable antenna are described, which include inflatable tube, inflatable torus and reflector etc. Deployable drive forces and deployable process order of each part are analyzed. The antenna model like IAE antenna is analyzed and simulated by the fore mentioned system. Each state during deployment process and velocity and acceleration of each node are obtained. The example is used to validate the simulation method and the fold scheme of inflatable antenna.