Session
2024 Session 1
Location
Salt Lake Community College Westpointe Campus, Salt Lake City, UT
Start Date
5-6-2024 9:10 AM
Description
Gossamer arrays for satellites are large, thin deployable structures, and they are attractive for space applications because they can be folded and stowed compactly for transportation and be deployed to have large functional surface areas. Reflectarray (RF) antennas could potentially function well on gossamer structures because they can be mounted on thin membranes. However, the efficiency of RF antennas decreases with any deviations from a flat plane, including those induced by plastically deformed creases. The study of origami allows us to design stowage configurations that meet specific needs. In this case, origami patterns and principles are explored that enable a reduction of plastic deformation in the membrane by developing surrogate folds that allow for rolling the membrane. Rolling membranes allows a minimum bend radius to be preserved, thus preventing plastic deformation and improving RF antenna efficiency.
Kirigami Pattern Development for Gossamer Reflectarray Antenna
Salt Lake Community College Westpointe Campus, Salt Lake City, UT
Gossamer arrays for satellites are large, thin deployable structures, and they are attractive for space applications because they can be folded and stowed compactly for transportation and be deployed to have large functional surface areas. Reflectarray (RF) antennas could potentially function well on gossamer structures because they can be mounted on thin membranes. However, the efficiency of RF antennas decreases with any deviations from a flat plane, including those induced by plastically deformed creases. The study of origami allows us to design stowage configurations that meet specific needs. In this case, origami patterns and principles are explored that enable a reduction of plastic deformation in the membrane by developing surrogate folds that allow for rolling the membrane. Rolling membranes allows a minimum bend radius to be preserved, thus preventing plastic deformation and improving RF antenna efficiency.