A Refined Shape Sensing Method for Skin Antenna Structure Based on Inverse Finite Element Method

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper is more on the mechanical deformation of metal plates than antenna theory. This reviewer suggests to submit the paper to a more appropriate section, since it is definitely not a paper about “Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Design, Analysis, and Measurement of Antennas“. 

In the introduction the manuscript mentions (conformal) antennas, but no other information are reported. From an electromagnetic theory point of view, the paper completely lacks any detail about the effect of the mechanical deformation on the radiation pattern of the antenna, for example. Some other important details are also missing, for example the operating frequency of the antenna, since the effect of deformations greatly depends on the wavelength.

Please define all acronyms (for example FOST, NDI, FBG) the first time they are used.

 

The manuscript needs a deep revision of the language. Please correct all the extra and missing spaces before/after commas and periods.

 

Other corrections:

- Line 98: please check “elements are not able not little and elements size not bigger”

- Line 99: “is not suit for regenerating” should read  “is not suitable for regenerating”

Author Response

Dear reviewer:

 

We have submitted the revised manuscript "A refined shape sensing method for skin antenna structure based on iFEM methodology" (applsci-904963). We have carefully studied the reviewers’ comments and made the corresponding revisions. These comments are really valuable and helpful for improving our manuscript.

We appreciate you for all your work. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Finally, Special thanks for your good comments again.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

This paper describes a multi-nodes inverse finite element method (iFEM) able to forecast effect of deformation upon flexible antennas. Dynamic monitoring is based on strain measurement and real-time reconstruction of the profile and at the same time, giving feedback for their actuation and control systems.

 

A short bibliographic analysis of inverse finite element method (iFEM) applied to flexible devices is given. Then the principle of the method is presented. According to the authors, an innovative interpolation method is adapted to reconstruct full field deformation again precisely by building numerical shaping function into the internal elements. The method is based on minimization of a weighted-least-squares functional that accounts for the complete set of strain measures consistent with Mindlin plate theory. The proposed method expands substantially the size of inverse elements, which reducing the numbers of arranging sensors, and improves the reconstruction accuracy obviously.

 

The authors provide comparative data between forecasting of their methods and the characterizations of a real device. The deformation of antenna reflector structure is the main factor that affects pointing accuracy, in order to examine the accuracy of iFEM for reconstructing the deformation of the antenna plate, analysis between numerical and experiment on skin antenna plate was presented.

 

It seems that even in the presence of relatively sparse strain data, sufficiently accurate reconstruction of antenna plate deformation can be achieved for the problems considered. The work would benefit from further comparative data on other practical situations.

 

Author Response

 

 

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Please consider having the manuscript proofread by an editor. There are numerous grammatical and structural errors that obfuscate the content. Additionally, there are also numerous instances of missed space after a period, space before a comma, multiple spaces between words etc. 

1. Lines 44-46 is unclear, please reword them.

2. Line 75, please provide the full name of SHM algorithm, and elaborate the algorithm if necessary.

3. Lines 97-99 is unclear, please reword them.

4. Figure 1 shows thickness as "2t" while text on line 114 says "2h"

5. Lines 124 - 150 have inconsistent naming and subscripts, please revise/correct them

6. Lines 182-287: the derivation (ku = f, with "e" superscripts) is unclear, please include a proper citation or the derivation. Note: if the derivation is long, it can be included as an appendix.

7. Line 220: Please describe the size of K_a matrix.

8. Line 279, 297: Please describe iFEM(a) and iFEM(b) as shown in figure 3 and figure 4

9. Line 342: Typo, table 4 not table 64

Author Response

Dear reviewer:

 

We have submitted the revised manuscript "A refined shape sensing method for skin antenna structure based on iFEM methodology" (applsci-904963). We have carefully studied the reviewers’ comments and made the corresponding revisions. These comments are really valuable and helpful for improving our manuscript.

We appreciate you for all your work. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Finally, Special thanks for your good comments again.

Reviewer 4 Report

Dear Authors

The submitted paper has been organised in a good order. It has the potential to be considered for publication in The International Journal of Applied Sciences although it must be further improved. Please address the reviewer's comments with detail as listed below:

 

• Figures must be reproduced, the quality is not acceptable.
•  When a set of equations are referred to a theory please cite a reference for that, some places require to address a paper or book for readers to better understand. 
• Formulations set 2, are very famous, it is not essential to include in the paper, it is better to cite a reference instead.
• The same point as mentioned above for the set of equation 5.
• As I move forward, I realised that the rest of the mathematical formulations are well known and famous in the theory of solid mechanics and in the sense of FEM, why did you present all? Strongly recommended to simplify the equations.
• The numerical analysis of iFEM has been performed in ANSYS, Right? It focused on a very simple example. Please provide some information regarding the mesh and boundary conditions although it was a bit described, more information needed.
• It would be great if the authors implement the corresponding methodology on a more complex example with different boundary conditions.
• What do you mean of NDI? When an acronym is used in the text, it must be fully presented in the first place.
• Please describe how the experimental measurement device works presented in Figure 6.
• Please provide an equation for the absolute error calculation.

The rest of the paper is comprehensive, I recommend the authors to carefully read the paper before submitting the revised version. Because its language requires spell and grammar checking.

 

Sincerely yours

The Reviewer

 

Author Response

Dear reviewer:

 

We have submitted the revised manuscript "A refined shape sensing method for skin antenna structure based on iFEM " (applsci-904963). We have carefully studied the reviewers’ comments and made the corresponding revisions. These comments are really valuable and helpful for improving our manuscript.

We appreciate you for all your work. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Finally, Special thanks for your good comments again.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

-

Author Response

Dear reviewer:

 

We have submitted the revised manuscript "A refined shape sensing method for skin antenna structure based on iFEM" (applsci-904963). We have carefully studied your comments and made the corresponding revisions.  

We appreciate you for all your work.

Finally, Special thanks for your good comments again.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

1. Line 77-80 is unclear, please reword them
2. Line 111, eq 4, the subscripts are confusing, (u/v/w with subscript "comma x" and "comma y", theta with two subscripts)
3. Line 116, eq 5, please define what epsilon subscript x/y mean; also for gamma subscript xy
4. Line 119, eq 6, please define what "n" is in the summation.
5. Line 129, eq 7, please define what "m" is in the summation.
6. Lines 146, eq 12, please state the size of matrices/vectors. Also, please provide some theory/reference supporting K_a is square and invertible; on the contrary if K_a is rectangular and invertible, please provide elaborate the pseudo inverse and rank.
7. Line 202, 235: Please describe iFEM(a) and iFEM(b) as shown in figure 3 and figure 4

Author Response

Dear reviewer:

 

We have submitted the revised manuscript "A refined shape sensing method for skin antenna structure based on iFEM" (applsci-904963). We have carefully studied your comments and made the corresponding revisions.  

We appreciate you for all your work.

Finally, Special thanks for your good comments again.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 4 Report

Dear authors

At this stage, I recommend an acceptance.

Best regards

The Reviewer

Author Response

Dear reviewer:

 

We have submitted the revised manuscript "A refined shape sensing method for skin antenna structure based on iFEM" (applsci-904963). We have carefully studied your comments and made the corresponding revisions.  

We appreciate you for all your work.

Finally, Special thanks for your good comments again.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx