Dynamic and Vibration Analysis of a SAR Membrane Antenna

Abstract

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) membrane antennas have attracted much attention for their low mass, small stowed volume, large gain and high resolution. To deploy a membrane antenna requires a deployable support structure providing deployment and rigid support after it is fully deployed. A membrane antenna’s vibration may be caused by the disturbance of the satellite attitude-control torque in spacecraft, and it is determined by the mechanical properties of the membrane and its in-plane tension loads. In this paper, the dynamic properties of the deployable structure are studied with ADAMS when the flexibility of the frames is considered. The mode shapes and the natural frequencies of the membrane are analyzed with ABAQUS when the pre-tension loads provided by the tension cable are changed. The random response of the membrane subjected to the base excitation is studied for different tension forces and damping ratios. This work provides a guideline for the vibration control of the membrane by controlling its tension force or damping ratio.