Research of the method based on the influence of sound waves on the metal-mesh for measuring the tension force of the metal-mesh on large-sized reflectors

The article provides an overview of current methods for measuring and controlling the tension force of the material of the spacecraft metal-mesh reflectors. The purpose of the research: to obtain the most accurate results of measuring the mesh tension. Based on the review, a comparative analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each of the considered methods was carried out, when measuring the tension force on mesh for large-sized transformable spacecraft reflectors. In the article considered the methods of force measurement: photo method, the operation principle of which consists in the sequential photographing of a mesh on reflector frame certain zones; a method based on pattern recognition, similar to the photo method, but using an information and measurement system with a given information processing algorithm; a method based on local membrane deformation, related to the contact type, in which the mesh tension measurement is defined as a reaction from the impact of physical force on the mesh surface; a method based on the influence of sound waves impact, which is based on the influence of sound waves impact on the mesh surface. The experimental part of the research described in the article includes the measurement of the mesh tension by the resonance method, as the most optimal method according to the analysis. The prospects of possible use of the resonance method in the aerospace industry of radioreflecting surfaces of spacecraft antennas are proposed and analyzed. According to the results of the conducted research, the dependence of tension force of mesh is established on the sound vibrations frequency affecting the mesh, at which resonance occurs.