Abstract: In order to obtain the dynamic characteristics of large-scale reflector from the folded state to the full deployment state, the airbag model and control volume (CV) method are employed for the inflation deployment of reflector. The finite element models of inflatable antenna including central hub, ribs, supporting tubes, membrane torus and tension ropes are established, an inverse method for the node coordinates of the reflector in the fold state is proposed, the flowchart for analyzing the dynamic deployment process is given, and the relationships between the torus inflation volume and inner gas pressure with deployment time under constant inflation gas velocity are acquired. The results indicate that, it is feasible to use the inflation gas technology for deploying large-scale reflector, with the inflation deployment process including four stages, i.e. initial folded stage, unlocking constrains and releasing stage, inflating and deploying stage, and maintaining shape with pressure stage. The ground inflation deployment experimental testing results validate the process of simulation.

Key words: Reflector, Control volume method, Airbag model, Dynamics analysis