Temperature Distribution and Influence Mechanism on Large Reflector Antennas under Solar Radiation

The solar impact on antenna must be lessened for the large reflector antenna operating at high frequencies to have great electromagnetic performances. Therefore, researching the temperature distribution and its influence on large reflector antenna is necessary. The variation of solar incidence angle is firstly calculated. Then the model is simulated by the I-DEAS software, with the temperature, thermal stress and thermal distortion distribution through the day obtained. In view of the important influence of shadow on antenna structure, a newly-proposed method makes a comprehensive description of the temperature distribution on the reflector and its influence through the day by dividing a day into three different periods. The sound discussions and beneficial summary serve as the scientific foundation for the engineers to compensate the thermal distortion and optimize the antenna structure.