Reduction of search order in surface ray analysis for a class of nondevelopable satellite launch vehicles

A geodesic constant method (GCM) is applied to the high-frequency electromagnetic problems for a nondevelopable satellite launch vehicle (SLV) modeled by a general paraboloid of revolution and a right circular cylinder. The junction transition point is obtained by the application of Hertz´s principle of particle dynamics. The GCM is also applicable to cone-cylinder types of SLV where the junction transition point cannot be located analytically in spite of the developability of the individual surfaces. Mutual coupling results are presented for a pair of arbitrarily placed slot antennas on an SLV. The specific example chosen is that of an SLV modeled by a nondevelopable h-QUASOR (hybrid quadric surface of revolution) structure.<>