Precision analysis of deployable structures based on dimension reduction method and effective link length

The uncertainties of joint clearances and link length errors are studied by the method of probability and statistics. A precision analysis method for deployable structure is proposed based on Univariate Dimension Reduction Method (UDRM) and effective link length model. Using the UDRM, the precision function for the deployable structure is decoupled into a combination of independent effects of multiple link length errors to establish the precision analysis model for the structure. The effective link length model is applied to replace the original link length for precision calculation. The effective model converts the joint clearances and link length errors into effective link length errors, which are proved to follow normal distributions. An example of deployable antenna is given to calculate the means and variances in the deployable state with the Gauss quadrature based on the error distributions of link lengths and joint clearances. The correctness and effectiveness of the precision analysis method is verified by comparing the results of Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) and First Order Second Moment (FOSM) method.