Three-Dimensional Accurate Geometric Modeling and Mechanical Analysis of Wire Mesh for Deployable Antennas

Abstract

Wire meshes are widely used in deployable antennas, and the structure of the wire mesh directly affects the structural and electrical properties of the antenna. This study proposes a set of automated geometric modeling and mechanical analysis processes to realize the automated mechanical analysis and design of complex wire mesh structures. First, considering the tilt in the wire mesh structure owing to the traction of the underlap on the loop, a three-dimensional (3D) geometric model of the repeating unit of the wire mesh structure was established using periodic cubic spline curves. Subsequently, a method using sensitivity matrix adjustment is proposed to eliminate the interstructure inlay phenomenon, and an optimization model is established. The vector superposition method established a 3D geometric model of the overall wire mesh structure without an inlay problem. Finally, a finite element model of the wire mesh considering the contact problem was established by the adaptive matching method for contact pairs of the finite element model of the wire mesh. Mechanical simulation experiments were carried out on the model, comparing the theoretical analysis with the experimental results and verifying its reasonableness.