Critical Wind Effects on Parabolic Reflectors

摘要

For decades designers of dish antennas and radio telescopes have known the aerodynamic properties of parabolic reflectors. However, site planners and end users are not necessarily versed in their properties, and so can place them on sites or use them in such a manner that the wind causes a maximum of disruption of the pointing and tracking performance. Parabolic reflectors make excellent airfoils, and as such act like an airplane wing in many respects. Having some knowledge of sensitive wind directions relative to the Line Of Sight (LOS) can lead a user to change his site selection or operating procedures to achieve the optimum pointing and tracking performance for most observations. This knowledge can also contribute information to help specify the necessary performance characteristics. This paper discusses the aerodynamic properties of parabolic reflectors so the reader can get a ready grasp of the issues.