Abstract:
The Flasher origami represents a particular kind of rigid origami which accomplishes folding and unfolding in a rotational fashion around the center. It boasts remarkable features such as a high stowage ratio, substantial stiffness, and limited degrees of freedom, making it a highly promising configuration to fulfill the developmental requirements of solid-surface deployable antennas on board satellites. To gain a more profound understanding of the vibration characteristics of the solid-surface deployable antenna based on Flasher origami when it is in the deployed state, comprehensive modal analysis and research on this antenna structure are initiated. Firstly, taking the deployable antenna mechanism with a solid surface based on Flasher origami as the research object, the mechanism design method and the deployment and retraction principles are elaborated. A 3D model of the deployable antenna structure is established and a principle prototype is developed. Secondly, leveraging the meshing software Hypermesh and integrating Boolean operations and feature removal techniques, geometric simplification and meshing procedures are carried out to establish a finite element model. Finally, modal analyses are performed on the fully deployed state of the antenna, considering two scenarios: one with ropes and the other without ropes. The first six natural frequencies and their corresponding vibration modes for both cases are obtained, and the influence patterns of different structural materials on the antenna's natural frequencies are investigated. The results show that after the incorporation of ropes, the natural frequencies at all orders of the antenna exhibit a notably significant enhancement, averaging around a 46% increase. Moreover, when the antenna employs a combined material scheme of carbon fiber panels and aluminum alloy hinges, its natural frequencies show an average elevation of approximately 118% compared to those of an antenna utilizing a single aluminum alloy and around 143% compared to an antenna using a single titanium alloy. These research findings can offer valuable insights and serve as a useful reference for both the fundamental research and engineering applications of solid-surface deployable antennas.