Shape Control of Inflatable Reflectors

Abstract

In this work studied are the means of maintaining the target design geometry of inflatable membranes that are used for low frequency antenna collectors. Considering the deviations from the target state as the linear combinations of a set of given n normalized undesirable displacement patterns (e.g., Fourier-Zernike functions), the linearized thin shell and membrane theories are used to obtain expressions for the components of the corresponding n number of induced macro strain states. Then the problems associated with the failure in implementing by piezofilm actuators all the components of the geometrically compatible macro strain states are studied. As a result of these studies several recommendations are given.