Simulation and experiment of thermal deformation behavior of reflector panels with honeycomb sandwich structure

The honeycomb sandwich structure reflector panel is a multilayer structure formed by three-layer aluminum plate and two-layer honeycomb bonded by epoxy resin adhesive, and its thermal deformation behavior is complicated. In this study, the thermal deformation behavior of the reflector panel is studied by a combination of experiment and finite element simulation. Firstly, the thermal deformation analysis finite element model of reflector panels with honeycomb sandwich structure is established. The three-layer aluminum plate is modeled according to actual geometric parameters and adopts shell element model. The honeycomb core is equivalent to a homogeneous orthotropic layer with a constant thickness. The elastic modulus of the equivalent model of the honeycomb core with adhesive are obtained through the tensile and compressive mechanical performance tests. Then, the temperature deformation experiment of the honeycomb sandwich structure panel is carried out. Combined with the experimental results and the thermal deformation simulation analysis model, the multi-island genetic algorithm is used to modify the thermal expansion coefficient of the honeycomb core layer. Finally, the thermal deformation behavior of the reflector is verified by finite element simulation and experiment. The results show that the profile error distribution caused by the panel thermal deformation has continuous symmetry. From the error distribution trend and numerical deviation, the established simulation model can be used to predict the thermal deformation of sandwich panels.