Development method of splitting the radio-reflective large-sized reflector surface into cutting patterns made of mesh with coarse cells

An important design component of space antenna reflectors is a reflecting surface. At present, metallic knitted mesh fabric is most often used as a reflective surface; it fully meets the requirements for such surfaces in terms of physical and mechanical properties. Particularly important characteristics for large-sized reflectors are low specific gravity and high light transmission coefficient, which a mesh with coarse cells provides. However, the structural features of this mesh fabric impose additional requirements on its use as a reflective surface for large-sized transformable reflectors. The article deals with a special approach to designing patterns for a reflective surface made of mesh with coarse cells. The developed pattern cutting option allows to obtain a reflective surface with the least distortion (error), in accordance formulated criteria. The authors have suggested the option of obtaining cutting patterns of metallic mesh fabric, described the advantages of the proposed option over the classical one. The cutting pattern of the parabolic surface for the offset reflector was obtained. The proposed cutting pattern option was analyzed. Furthermore, optimization was carried out, which made it possible to maintain the integrity of the cellular structure of patterns along one loop row. The compared results show that the developed cutting pattern option completely complies with the requirements and it can be used to form a reflective surface from the metallic knitted mesh with coarse cells.