Optimum Design of a Lightweight Mirror Using Aluminum Foam or Honeycomb Sandwich Construction - A Case Study for the GLAS Telescope

摘要

A simple closed form solution was derived fro the optimum weight design of a cylindrical sandwich mirror for a given self-weight deflection and mirror radius. This optimum solution is based on the generalized deflection equation for an axisymmetricaly supported thick circular plate. This two parameter equation of deflection captures the deflection of the plate caused by bending and transverse shear. The solution yields the optimum facesheet thickness, core thickness, and core density.