Abstract: For the optimization target of improving the deployment process stability and natural frequency of circular solar array, the UltraFlex solar array configuration is employed and the finite element software SAMCEF is utilized for structural optimization. The influence of different structural parameters, including the material of the supporting beam, the opening height of the sloped beam, the position of the sloped beam, the height and thickness of the supporting beam, on the deployment process stability and modal of the system are studied. The results show that, in the late stage of the deployment, the pulling of the solar blanket and the supporting beam will cause the shear stress of the support beam to increase sharply; the beam material, the position of the sloped beam and the cross section height of the supporting beam have a greater impact on the deployment process stability of the solar array; when the material is carbon fiber, the sloped beam position is 1100 mm, and the cross section height is 20 mm, the solar array obtains the best deployment process stability; the position of the sloped beam and the thickness of the supporting beam have a greater impact on the natural frequency of the structure; when the sloped beam position is 900 mm or 1100 mm, and the thickness of the supporting beam increases from 3 mm to 3.5 mm, the solar array obtains the best increase of the natural frequency, which can balance the influence of the increase of structure mass.

Key words: UltraFlex solar arrays, Structural optimization; Dynamics simulation, Modal simulation