Evaluation Of Damage And Deformation Of Rt-32 Radio Telescope / Radioteleeskopa Rt-32 Deformācijas Un Bojājumu Novērtējums

Abstract

The main objective of the work was to analyze the operation of the large radio telescope RT-32 at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC). The analysis has been performed in order to evaluate dimensional changes in the RT- 32 structural base due to reorientation of the antenna mirror. Three different orientations of the dish were considered, and the dimensional changes in the load carrying substructure were measured. The measurements were made to estimate possible effect of the geometrical changes of the antenna due to gravitational loads on the overall performance of the radio telescope with respect to the obtained astronomical results, their accuracy and validity. Comprehensive mapping and classification of the corrosive damage of steel elements in the antenna have been done. A preliminary numerical analysis by the finite element method was carried out to demonstrate the overall effect of the damaged steel beams on the geometrical distortion of the antenna surface.