Abstract:

With the development of offset reflector antenna with high performance, the growing demands for high frequency, low sidelobe level and reduced mass have brought structural design and manufacturing process stringent requirements. The electromechanical coupling problem of offset reflector antenna is studied to find out the prime structural factors which have a great effect on electromagnetic performances, reducing the requirements of structural design and machining precision effectively to decrease the cost. Considering the structural factors such as the reflector surface errors and the feed errors, the electromechanical coupling model of the offset reflector antenna is discussed and developed by using the aperture field method. By comparing the coupling analysis results and FEKO simulation results of the electromagnetic performance of a 2.6 m spaceborne offset antenna with surface thermal distortions caused by solar radiation show the proposed coupling model is effective and of potential engineering value.