Algorithm for rapidly predicting the worst surface accuracy of deployable mesh reflectors

Abstract It is crucial to predict the worst surface accuracy of deployable mesh reflectors considering uncertainties at the design stage. The traditional method is computationally expensive because a form-finding process which needs many iterations is required in each Monte Carlo simulation. A quick method is adopted to rapidly compute the worst surface accuracy of deployable mesh reflectors. The sensitivity relationships between nodal coordinate deviations, cable force deviations and cable length errors are primarily derived. Instead of the time-consuming form-finding process, the derived sensitivity relationships are utilized to carry out the Monte Carlo simulations in the quick method. Ultimately, both the symmetric and asymmetric AstroMesh reflectors are numerically analyzed. The results show that the derived sensitivity relationships are effective, and the quick method can predict the worst surface accuracy as precise as the traditional method but with far less time consumption.