Mechanical characteristics of short-wave inflatable antenna supports

The paper analyzes the mechanical characteristics of cylindrical antenna supports in the shortwave frequency range. The aim is to develop a methodology for calculating the required dimensions of the support and establishing the attachment point of the guy wires, ensuring its stability. A method for determining the coefficient of elasticity of a support is proposed, based on determining its deflection under the action of its own weight with a two-way securing the cylinders. The aerodynamic properties of cylindrical supports are determined and a method for calculating the deflection and angle of rotation of the top of the support is considered. The boundary conditions under which the cantilever part of the support attachment loses stability are shown. In the calculation part, two methods for determining displacements in beams are used. They are integration of the differential equation of the elastic line and the Mohr integral – the Vereshchagin method. The calculation results were confirmed experimentally based on field tests of the design of a shortwave antenna support developed and implemented in production. Experiments have confirmed the validity of the assumptions made in the calculations.