Effect of Mechanical Tolerances in Deployable Multi-Faceted Reflectarrays

Abstract

In this paper, an analysis of the performance degradation in a multi-faceted reflectarray antenna because of the assembling tolerances is presented. In different scenarios of misalignment between panels, two multi-faceted reflectarrays which work in linear polarization at Ka-band are evaluated. They are designed to generate a pencil beam pattern in a certain direction of space. The results of this study show that the errors in the relative placement and tilting between panels in the sectored cut cause an increase in the side lobe levels. When these errors are significant, this means a degradation of the main beam, leading to an increase in the beamwidth and a significant loss of gain.