Satellite antenna dynamics and control with thermal effect
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of the space thermal effect on satellite antenna.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, according to the geometric characteristics of parabolic reflector, the transient temperature field of an element along its thickness direction is built for shell structures using finite element discretization and the quadratic function interpolation, and heat conduction equations are derived based on the theory of the thermo-elastic dynamics. The modeling theory of rigid–flexible coupling system considering thermal effect is extended to the satellite antenna system. Then, the coupling dynamic equations are established including coupling stiffness matrix and thermal loaded undergoing a large overall motion. Finally, an adaptive controller is proposed and the adaptive update laws are designed under the parameter uncertainty.
Findings
The results of dynamic characteristic analysis show that the dynamic thermal loaded coupled with structure deformation induce the unstable vibration and coupled flutter. Further, the coupling effect degrades the antenna pointing accuracy seriously and leads to disturbances on satellite base. The results of the simulation show that the adaptive controller can ensure that antenna pointing closes to the expected trajectory progressively, and it demonstrates that the proposed control scheme is feasible and effective.
Research limitations/implications
The paper considers only the effect of space thermal effect to satellite antenna. Further research could be done on the flexible multibody system by considering joint clearance in the future research.
Originality/value
The conclusions of this paper would be an academic significance and engineering value for the analysis and control of satellite antenna pointing.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This material is partially based on Project No.2013CB733000 supported by the National Basic Research Program of China and National Science Foundation under grant no.51205079, no.11072066, and supported by the advanced research project (51320030201) of “Twelfth-Five-Year-Plan” of equipment, and the Projects (HIT. NSRIF. 2015110) supported by Natural Scientific Research Innovation Foundation in Harbin Institute of Technology.
Citation
You, B., Zhang, H., Wang, P. and Zhang, J. (2015), "Satellite antenna dynamics and control with thermal effect", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 87 No. 3, pp. 274-283. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-05-2013-0093
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited