Title :
Antenna Mechanic-structural fatigue in the 34-meter HA-dec antennas
Author :
Van Hek, R.A. ; Saldua, B.P.
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA
Abstract :
Three 26-m hour-angle/declination (HA-dec) antennas, designed for a life span of 20 years, were built in the early 1960s for the NASA Deep Space Network. After 16 years the antennas were upgraded. The design required a structural weight increase of about 50% in both the HA and dec structures to achieve the desired improvements. The fatigue caused by the resulting stress-reversal conditions is discussed. The structural failures and their analyses are described.<>
Keywords :
failure (mechanical); reflector antennas; 34 m; NASA Deep Space Network; hour-angle/declination antennas; stress-reversal conditions; structural failures; structural fatigue; structural weight; Antenna measurements; Antennas and propagation; Fatigue; Laboratories; Postal services; Propulsion; Ribs; Soil; Vehicle dynamics; Wheels;
Journal_Title :
Antennas and Propagation Magazine, IEEE
