The reflector shape adjusting methods for cable mesh deployable antenna

Considering the characteristics of mesh reflector antenna, two adjusting methodologies are proposed in this paper. One is to search for highest reflector precision whilst satisfying nonlinear constrains, such as eigen frequency, material strength and sides by finding the optimum adjusting cables' increment. The other is to search for the highest reflector precision and the minimum adjusting cable numbers whilst satisfying the same constraints as the above by finding out two kinds of variables, i.e., number of adjusting cables and increment of adjusting cables' length. Obviously the latter is a nonlinear programming problem with two objectives and both continuous and discrete design variables. The numerical simulation of a 17 m cable mesh antenna is carried out to demonstrate the methodology given in this paper.