Surface Degradation of Cable-Mesh Reflector with Pillow Deformation

Abstract

In cable-mesh reflector antennas, the balance between mesh tension and cable tension can cause out-of-plane deformation of the mesh surface. This deformation is called pillow deformation, and it causes considerable degradation of surface accuracy. Therefore, to develop a high-precision mesh antenna, it is necessary to clarify the pillow deformation caused by the mesh-to-cable tension ratio. In this study, the mesh deformation on reflector surface was investigated. The tension balance between the cable and the mesh caused node movement and affected pillow deformation. Furthermore, the relationship between the tension ratio and the accuracy of the surface was clarified.