To study the influence of stressed skin on the global stability of aluminum alloy frame of radome structure

a static loading test was conducted on a radome which has a span of 5.8 m and a height of 4.3 m. A self-designed multi-stage distribution beam loading system was applied to the structure

and simultaneous multi-stage loading was realized on the structure at multiple points. Three load cases

i.e.

completely covering skins

partially covering skins

and framework

were discussed respectively. Test results show that due to the lateral bracing of the stressed skin on the aluminum alloy members

the prematurely elastic instability of the members around the weak axis was avoided

which significantly improved the global stability bearing capacity of the structure. When a small amount of stressed skin was destroyed

the global stability bearing capacity was still much higher than that for the framework case. Therefore

in the design of such radomes

the cooperative performance of the stressed skin and the frame should be considered to solve the problems of structural safety and electromagnetic transparency.