Research on Aerodynamic Characteristics and Wind Resistance Performance of Tensile Membrane Radome

The tensile membrane radome is constructed from a single layer of high-transparency, flexible dielectric film, with no supporting skeleton obstructing the wave-transmission area, enabling excellent electromagnetic wave-transmission performance. However, its extremely thin wall thickness renders it a wind-sensitive structure, with relatively lower structural reliability than conventional sandwich radomes. The wind force variations experienced by the radome under different elevation angles are investigated using computational fluid dynamics numerical wind tunnel simulation methods, and the impact of arch height parameters on the aerodynamic characteristics of the radome is discussed. The deformation and stress of the radome under wind pressure are analyzed through nonlinear finite element analysis, and the contributions of membrane curvature and pre-tension to the stiffness and strength of the radome are examined. Full-scale mechanical tests are conducted to validate the load-bearing capacity of this type of radome, and comparative sealing texts are further implemented. It is demonstrated that good sealing enables the generation of adaptive pressure within the radome to resist external loads, reduce the stress level of the radome structure, and enhance its safety margin and service life.