. Influence of thermal fields on the functional characteristics of metal-polymer antenna shells

The operating characteristics of shell antennas equipped with heating elements were investigated. The thermal conductivity coefficient is a key parameter affecting the rate of thermal energy transfer from the heating element to the working surface of the antenna and the uniform temperature field distribution. The thermophysical features of using metallic, composite, and sandwich reflectors with heating systems were analyzed. A mathematical description of the transient temperature field within the material volume of high-frequency antennas, including segmented antennas with consideration of the thermal resistance of the material layers, was examined. Metallic reflectors reduce the temperature gradient during the transition to operating conditions; however, they are characterized by greater weight and higher sensitivity to thermal expansion. For metal-polymer reflectors based on carbon-fiber-reinforced composites, the fiber orientation, layer stacking sequence, thickness of the polymer matrix, and the presence of thermally conductive electrically insulating layers should be taken into account, as these factors affect the operation of the heating system.