3.

7m SATCOM antenna
Mechanical Analysis and Verification of Antenna Structure Design

1 Mechanical Analysis and Verification of Antenna Structure Design

1.1 Foreword
3.7m electric communication antenna is composed of reflector, feed system, back structure,
king post, hub and support leg,etc.According to the requirements of the working environment
of the antenna and the experience of engineering, the wind resistance analysis of the antenna
structure is mainly to analyze the wind load of the reflector, back structure and the
kingpost,etc.

The wind resistance conditions of the antenna mainly including:

1) General area:

Working wind speed: Gust ≤27m/s stable operation; Gust ≤35m/s reducing accuracy;

2) Mountainous, coastal and island areas:41m/s (windproof stability);51m/s (wind

strength);

3) Survival wind speed: ≥56m/s locked to the sky.

1.2 Establishment of Antenna Structural Mechanics Simulation Model

Based on the 3D model of the total assembly of the antenna (FIG. 1) and all the drawings, the
simulation model of antenna structure mechanics forms a finite element mesh model that can
be used by the mechanical analysis program after reasonable simplification and dispersion
(FIG. 2).

The reflector panel is made of aluminum and the rest of the material is steel.

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Fig1: 3D Model of the Total Assembly of 3.7m Antenna

Fig2: 3.7m Antenna Mesh Model

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1.3 Calculate the Load Conditions of the Selected Model
The reflector panel is 1.5mm aluminum plate. In order to reduce the amount of simulation
data, the equivalent wind load is directly loaded on a thickened equivalent weight antenna in
this report, without affecting the calculation accuracy.For the constraint surface of the model,
the axial hole of the antenna strut and rotating support and the contact surface between the
two inclined support legs and the ground were selected, and the constraint type was fixed
support.

When the reflector aperture is perpendicular to the ground, the wind resistance has the
greatest influence, the 45 degree elevation of the reflector aperture is the normal working
state, and the reflector aperture is face to the sky for the sate of preservation.According to the
wind resistance conditions of the antenna, the load conditions calculated by the antenna
model are divided into five groups as follows:

1. The sate in which the reflector aperture is perpendicular to the ground + dead weight
+27m/s wind speed

2. The sate in which the reflector aperture is perpendicular to the ground + dead weight
+35m/s wind speed

3. The 45 degree elevation of the reflector aperture + dead weight +41m/s wind speed

4. The 45 degree elevation of the reflector aperture + dead weight +51m/s wind speed

5. The sate in which the reflector aperture is face to the sky + dead weight +56m/s wind
speed

1.4 Analysis the Calculation Results

After the mechanical calculation model of the structure is established, it is analyzed and
calculated according to the five working conditions and the constraint conditions of the
structure model.According to the practical experience of previous projects, the strength index
of antenna reflector structure can definitely meet the service requirements when the stiffness
index is satisfied.

The deformation trend of the calculated results is consistent with the actual deformation of
the structure.The structural deformation diagram and stress distribution diagram of key parts
are all listed for reference.The magnitude of the node deformation value and the magnitude of
the element stress are distinguished by color in the illustrations. Please refer to the
illustrations carefully.

The following are the deformation diagram of the reflector and the stress distribution diagram
of the maximum stress position in the structure under five working conditions:

1. The sate in which the reflector aperture is perpendicular to the ground + dead weight
+27m/s wind speed

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 Fig3: 3.7m Antenna Displacement Nephogram
2. The sate in which the reflector aperture is perpendicular to the ground + dead weight
+35m/s wind speed

Fig4: 3.7m Antenna Displacement Nephogram

3. The 45 degree elevation of the reflector aperture + dead weight +41m/s wind speed

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 Fig5: 3.7m Antenna Displacement Nephogram

Fig6: 3.7m Antenna Stress Nephogram

4. The 45 degree elevation of the reflector aperture + dead weight +51m/s wind speed

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 Fig7: 3.7m Antenna Displacement Nephogram

Fig8: 3.7m Antenna Stress Nephogram

5. The sate in which the reflector aperture is face to the sky + dead weight +56m/s wind
speed

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 Fig9: 3.7m Antenna Displacement Nephogram

Fig10: 3.7m Antenna Stress Nephogram

After processing the simulation data, the results show that the precision of the reflector and
the maximum stress of the structure under various working conditions are as follows:

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1. The sate in which the reflector aperture is perpendicular to the ground + dead weight
+27m/s wind speed

Under the condition of maintaining accuracy, the maximum deformation of the reflector at the
support struts of the sub-reflector and feed system is 0.43mm. According to the node
deformation value selected within the range of the reflector, the RMS(root mean square) value
of the deformation of the entire reflector is calculated to be 0.086mm.

2. The sate in which the reflector aperture is perpendicular to the ground + dead weight
+35m/s wind speed

Under the descending accuracy condition, the maximum deformation of the reflector is
0.49mm at the strut of the sub-reflector and feed system. According to the node deformation
value selected within the range of the reflector surface, the RMS(root mean square) value of
the entire reflector surface deformation is calculated to be 0.103mm.

3. The 45 degree elevation of the reflector aperture + dead weight +41m/s wind speed

Under the stable wind condition, the maximum deformation of the reflector is 51mm, which is
generated at the outer edge of the reflector panel.The maximum stress of the back structure
reaches above 300MPa.

4. The 45 degree elevation of the reflector aperture + dead weight +51m/s wind speed

The maximum deformation of the reflector is 79mm.The maximum stress of the support hinge
on the left side of the bracket is above 600MPa.Alloy steel with yield strength greater than
600MPa should be selected to meet the requirements, such as 42CrMo, whose yield strength
reaches 930MPa.

5. The sate in which the reflector aperture is face to the sky + dead weight +56m/s wind
speed

The maximum deformation of the reflector is 22mm.The maximum stress of the back structure
reaches above 300MPa.

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