Analysis of the Impact of Effective Reflector Area Expansion on the Thermal Deformation of Umbrella Antenna

Umbrella antennas are widely utilized in high-orbit satellite communications due to their numerous advantages, including high precision, large aperture, and exceptional reliability. The effective geometric area of an antenna significantly influences its gain. Therefore, to enhance antenna performance, one can extend the boundaries of an umbrella antenna from the traditional catenary boundary to a circular one. Furthermore, the thermal stability of antennas in orbit is a pivotal factor impacting their performance. In this study, finite element models were established for both the conventional umbrella antenna and the one with an expanded effective geometric area. Using the finite element analysis (FEA) method, thermal deformations under various conditions were calculated for both models. The aim was to analyze the influence of extending the effective geometric area on the thermal stability of umbrella antennas.