Vibration and shape control of a large deployable antenna via electromagnetic damping

For the harshness of launch load, in-orbit disturbance and thermal load, vibration and shape control are crucial to the success of large deployable antennas. This article addresses the implementation of electromagnetic damping in vibration and shape control of a large deployable antenna. Mechanical-electromagnetic coupling of the damping is analyzed theoretically. Simulations of SDOF systems with the electromagnetic damping are conducted and control efficiencies of the damping for vibration isolation, vibration absorption and shape control are verified. Vibration isolation of the antenna under launch load, vibration absorption of the antenna under in-orbit disturbance and shape control of the antenna under thermal load are studied, and the control results show that the proposed electromagnetic damping provides a promising control method for vibration and shape control of large space structures.