DESIGN OF METAL SPACE FRAME RADOMES
Abstract
Design graphs, formulas and procedures for the design and evaluation of the electrical performance of metal space frame radomes is presented covering specifically transmission loss, boresight error, and side-lobe variation. The relative merits of metal and dielectric elements is analyzed. The study consists of developing a straight forward simple procedure for the optimum sizing of solid beam elements for large space frame radomes. Equations were derived expressing the relationship between the element dimensions necessary to satisfy a prescribed electrical transmission loss and the structural integrity of the space frame. These equations, considered as design constraints, were utilized in the selection of the element size which satisfied a defined optimum criterion. Two optimization criteria were adopted: first, the minimization of the transmission loss subject to a constraint of structural integrity and, second, the reduction of the total structural weight of the elements which simultaneously satisfy the transmission loss and structural constraint. A sample design computation was conducted as an example of the procedure. The second optimization criterion was applied to a 150 foot diameter radome which was required to sustain 150 mph winds. A procedure for implementing the first optimization criterion employing the method of Lagrangian multipliers was presented resulting in four equations to be solved simultaneously.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0610037
Entities
People
- Alan F. Kay
- Donald Paterson