Special design considerations for wind induced pointing errors in large unblocked aperture radio reflectors

The author shows trends in the behavior of the NRAO (National Radio Astronomy Observatory) 100-m Green Bank Telescope, through pressure loadings applied to the NRAO NASTRAN model of the proof-of-concept elevation structure. The analysis phase pursued questions pertaining to pointing error components that were not applied during the optimization process, as well as to generating procedures that would allow NRAO to evaluate the contractor model. The final set of environmental loadings provided for eight wind load sets, gravity-induced surface deformation constraints, and natural frequency constraints. Eleven components are included in the pointing error calculations. Pointing error scalars generated by the NRAO RF optics group were applied to these terms and resulting pointing errors calculated.<>