Design of load-bearing antenna structures by embedding technology of microstrip antenna in composite sandwich structure

Antenna/sensor multifunctional composites for the wireless detection of damage

In this paper we report the development of a loadbearing outer surface that enhanced antenna performances, and is termed CSS for 'composite smart structure'. A CSS is a multilayer composite sandwich structure in which antenna layers are embedded. Two types of CSS are designed. One uses a direct-feeding stacked patch antenna and the other an aperture-coupled patch antenna for electrical performances. The design procedure is presented including structure design, material selection and design of antenna elements in order to achieve high electrical and structural performances. Antenna design is processed at a central frequency of 12.2 GHz and a bandwidth over 1 GHz. Honeycomb thickness under the outer facesheet is selected for the most efficient electrical performances. A high gain can be obtained by placing an outer facesheet at a resonance position of the radiated field, which is half the wavelength distance from the spot which the radiation originates from. Measured electrical performances show that CSSs have a wide bandwidth over 10% and a higher gain than the antennas before they are embedded, and no doubt they have excellent structural performances due to sandwich effects by composites and honeycomb cores. With the CSS design concept, antenna efficiency can be improved with structurally effective materials of high electrical loss. The CSS concept can be extended to give a useful guide for manufacturers of structural body panels as well as antenna designers, promising innovative future communication technology.

Design and fabrication of composite smart structures for communication, using structural resonance of radiated field

In this paper, we have developed a load-bearing outer skin for antennas, which is termed a composite smart structure (CSS). The CSS is a multilayer composite sandwich structure in which antenna layers are inserted. A direct-feed stacked patch antenna is considered. A design procedure including the structure design, material selection, and design of antenna elements in order to obtain high electric and mechanical performances is presented. An optimized honeycomb thickness is selected for efficient radiation and impedance characteristics. High gain conditions can be obtained by placing the outer facesheet in the resonance position, which is at about a half wavelength distance from the ground plane. The measured electrical performances show that the CSS has a great bandwidth (over 10%) and a higher gain than an antenna without a facesheet and has excellent mechanical performances, owing to the composite laminates and honeycomb cores. The CSS concept can be extended to give a useful guide for manufacturers of structural body panels and for antenna designers.

Design and fabrication of composite smart structures with high electric and mechanical performances for future mobile communication

Effect of adhesive bonds on electrical performance in multi-layer composite antenna

Two types of conformal load-bearing antenna structures (CLAS) were designed with microwave composite laminates and Nomex honeycomb cores to secure both the structural rigidity and a good electrical performance One was a 4 × 8 array for the synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) system and the other was a 5 × 2 array for the wireless local-area network (LAN) system The design was based on a wide bandwidth, high polarization purity, low losses, and high structural rigidity The design, fabrication, and structural/electrical performances of the antenna structures were studied Their flexural behavior was examined by three-point bending, impact, and buckling tests The electrical measurements were in a good agreement with simulation results The complex antenna structures obtained have good flexural characteristics The design of this antenna structure is extended to give a useful guide for sandwich panel manufacturers as well as antenna designers

C. K. Kim

Papers

Design of microstrip antennas with composite laminates considering their structural rigidity