Stability investigation of the quadripod structure for the NASA/JPL 70-meter antenna
A new, slim-profiled, low-blockage quadripod structure was designed to support the 7.7-m-diameter subreflector for the 70-m antenna. Detailed analyses of quadripod structural stability (in frequency and buckling) are presented. The results indicate that the new quadripod design has an adequate safety margin for buckling, and its lowest natural frequency is above the control system bandwidth. The analytical design frequencies were confirmed by actual field measurements made in Spain in February 1986.