Abstract
The aerodynamic characteristics of radar antennas should be considered in computing their wind resistance and designing pedestal servo systems. In this paper, the aerodynamic characteristics of a flat plate antenna with azimuthal rotation are explored using a wind tunnel, and the effects of the antenna elevation angle and reduced frequency on the aerodynamic coefficients are analyzed. The corresponding results of numerical simulation are given to compare with the experimental results. The variation of aerodynamic coefficients with respect to the azimuth angle is found to depend on the reduced frequency and the antenna elevation angle. When the increase in antenna elevation angle is slight, the mean and root mean square values of the aerodynamic coefficients are not monotonic with respect to increases in elevation angle and may increase at individual elevation angles. When the elevation angle increases significantly, the mean, maximum, and root mean square values of the aerodynamic coefficients all significantly decrease. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results, which verify the feasibility of using unsteady numerical simulations to obtain the flow field structure when the antenna is rotating. This approach allows the influence mechanism of the elevation angle change on the aerodynamic characteristics of the rotating antenna to be identified.
Highlights
For the radar antenna working in the open air, wind load is the main source of its load
Based on dynamic force testing in a wind tunnel, a flat plate antenna was tested at a range of elevation angles and reduced frequencies
A comparison of the numerical simulation results for the aerodynamic coefficients at different antenna elevation angles shows that the two sets of results are in good agreement, indicating the possibility of using numerical simulations to obtain the unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of the antenna, and the influence mechanism, whereby the unsteady flow field structure on the aerodynamic characteristics of the antenna is briefly introduced. e conclusions are as follows
Summary
For the radar antenna working in the open air, wind load is the main source of its load. There are many researches on the electrical performance of radar antenna [1], but with the increase in the volume and weight of radar antenna, the importance of antenna aerodynamic characteristics (aerodynamic coefficient, surface pressure coefficient) in its wind resistance performance design, structural strength check, and servo system design are gradually highlighted [2]. E influence of antenna attitude (e.g., elevation angle, azimuth angle) on the steady aerodynamic characteristics (e.g., aerodynamic coefficient and surface pressure distribution) of antenna has become the research focus of many scholars [3,4,5]. Compared with the static antenna, the continuous rotation of the antenna causes it to be subject to the time-varying dynamic wind load. Excessive dynamic wind load will increase the fatigue damage of the antenna structure and decrease the scanning precision. In the structural design of radar antennas, designers mostly used the root mean square (rms) value of the steady aerodynamic coefficient when the antenna was at rest as the reference data for structural design
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
