Abstract: With the help of a mathematical model of some tension truss antenna, an approach to the design of a prestressed tension truss antenna, not in consideration of the elasticity of the ring truss, is presented. The approach combines two steps in getting a set of optimum pre-tensions. Based on force equations of the front net projected in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the parabolic reflector, and the characteristic of the cable net structure, an optimization model, having only two design variables and with the maximum pre-tension ratio (MTR) of cables internal in the front cable net as its objective function, is deduced. And then, based on the optimization result, a set of pre-tensions of the cable net structure is calculated. Finally, a finite element model of the cable net structure, with the designed pre-tensions as initial conditions, is analyzed. The result shows that the designed model is nearly the same as the ideal model expected and that the MTR of cables internal in the front cable net is considerably small. This approach has proved to be correct and effective.

Key words: antenna, cable net structure, pre-tension, design precision