Design of a morphing skin using flexible fiber composites for space-reconfigurable reflectors

Leri Datashvili, Horst Baier, Bin Wei, Stephan Endler, Ludovic Schreider

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

A number of aerospace structural applications with intended shape variation require different kinds of morphing skins for fulfillment of diverse requirements. An example of such a morphing skin application is a space-reconfigurable reflector antenna of a telecommunication satellite. Reconfigurable reflectors can replace the typical configuration of several shaped reflectors and satellites with a single reflector and, thereby, enhance coverage performance to several needed areas of the Earth during a single lifetime in orbit. Thus, their application promises huge cost savings. Design of the reflector morphing skin, being a focus of the paper, is a challenging task because besides the ability to morph they have to satisfy mechanical and radio frequency stringent requirements. Material selection, tailoring of the material properties based on numerical and experimental studies, improving radio frequency characteristics and deriving the potential concept of the mechanically reconfigurable reflector are addressed in the paper. Reshaping performance is discussed based on comparison of target and achieved shapes. Final achieved shapes are acquired with an established optimization procedure coupling RF and structural behaviors.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Event54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: 8 Apr 201311 Apr 2013

Publication series

Name54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference

Conference

Conference54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston, MA
Period8/04/1311/04/13

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