Design of an Adaptive Surface for Space-Reconfigurable Reflectors using Auxetic Lattice Skin

TL;DR

This paper explores how auxetic lattice skins with negative Poisson's ratio can enhance the reconfigurability of space reflectors by reducing deformation stress and enabling precise shape adjustments.

Contribution

It introduces an auxetic lattice design for space reflectors and analyzes how varying Poisson's ratio affects their mechanical reconfiguration capabilities.

Findings

Auxetic lattice reduces deforming stress in reflectors.

Negative Poisson's ratio improves shape reconfigurability.

Optimal thickness determined by FEM analysis.

Abstract

The effect of Poisson's ratio to the reflector reshaping is investigated through mechanical study of reconfigurable reflectors in this paper. The value of Poisson's ratio corresponding to the minimum deforming stress is given and an auxetic lattice is proposed for the reflector surface. The parameters of the auxetic lattice are investigated for vary Poisson's ratio. A case of reconfigurable reflector is studied, the curvature change and strain are calculated by surface geometry analysis, and the negative Poisson's ratio is established for vary thickness. According to RMS calculation by the FEM structure analysis, the thickness can finally be established.