Electromagnetic Performance Analysis of Glass Fiber Composite Radomes with Different Structures and Fiber Orientations

Abstract

Radomes are special structures that protect antennas from environmental effects and should not prevent radio wave propagation. For radar and antenna systems to operate properly, signals must be transmitted without interference and, if reflected, received accurately without substantial loss. In this study, the effects of different fiber orientations and sandwich structure on the electromagnetic performance of glass fiber composite radomes were investigated. Although fiber orientation is commonly selected to meet the mechanical design requirements of composite radomes, its influence on the electromagnetic transmission characteristics of monolithic and sandwich glass/epoxy structures has received limited experimental attention. Therefore, this study experimentally investigated the effects of selected fiber-orientation sequences and laminate configurations on electromagnetic transmission performance. Free-space RF transmission measurements were conducted at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 GHz using three specimens from each monolithic and sandwich laminate panel under identical measurement conditions. The received power levels were recorded in dBm and compared with the corresponding no-specimen reference measurement at each frequency. Across the investigated frequency range, the maximum absolute difference in received power between the two monolithic fiber-orientation sequences was 1.59 dB, while the corresponding maximum difference between the two sandwich configurations was 1.30 dB. The maximum difference between the average monolithic and sandwich configurations was 2.74 dB, which was observed at 10 GHz. These findings suggest that, under the investigated material, specimen geometry, frequency range, antenna polarization, and measurement conditions, the selected fiber-orientation sequences can be determined primarily based on mechanical design requirements without causing substantial variations in electromagnetic transmission performance. 

Keywords

• radomes
• Glass Fiber Composite
• Radio Waves
• Electromagnetic Permeability

Farklı Yapıda ve Fiber Oryantasyonda Cam Elyaf Kompozit Radomlarda Elektromanyetik Performans Analizi

Abstract

Radomlar, antenleri çevresel etkilerden koruyan özel yapılardır ve radyo dalgalarının yayılmasını engellememelidir. Radar ve anten sistemlerinin düzgün çalışabilmesi için sinyallerin parazitsiz bir şekilde iletilmesi ve yansıtıldıkları takdirde önemli bir kayıp olmaksızın doğru bir şekilde alınması gerekir. Bu çalışmada, farklı elyaf yönelimlerinin ve sandviç yapının cam elyaf kompozit radomların elektromanyetik performansı üzerindeki etkileri incelenmiştir. Elyaf yönelimi genellikle kompozit radomların mekanik tasarım gereksinimlerini karşılamak üzere seçilse de, bunun monolitik ve sandviç cam/epoksi yapıların elektromanyetik iletim özellikleri üzerindeki etkisi, deneysel olarak sınırlı ölçüde ele alınmıştır. Bu nedenle, bu çalışmada seçilen lif yönelim dizileri ve laminat konfigürasyonlarının elektromanyetik iletim performansı üzerindeki etkileri deneysel olarak incelenmiştir. Boş uzayda RF iletim ölçümleri, her bir monolitik ve sandviç laminat panelden alınan üç numune kullanılarak 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 ve 12 GHz frekanslarında, aynı ölçüm koşulları altında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Alınan güç seviyeleri dBm cinsinden kaydedildi ve her frekansta ilgili numunesiz referans ölçümle karşılaştırıldı. İncelenen frekans aralığı boyunca, iki monolitik fiber yönlendirme dizisi arasında alınan güçtaki maksimum mutlak fark 1,59 dB iken, iki sandviç konfigürasyon arasındaki karşılık gelen maksimum fark 1,30 dB idi. Ortalama monolitik ve sandviç konfigürasyonları arasındaki maksimum fark 2,74 dB idi ve bu fark 10 GHz'de gözlemlendi. Bu bulgular, incelenen malzeme, numune geometrisi, frekans aralığı, anten polarizasyonu ve ölçüm koşulları altında, seçilen fiber yönlendirme dizilerinin, elektromanyetik iletim performansında önemli değişikliklere yol açmadan, öncelikle mekanik tasarım gereksinimlerine dayalı olarak belirlenebileceğini göstermektedir. 

Keywords

• Radom
• Cam elyaf kompozit
• Radyo Dalgaları
• Elektromanyetik Geçirgenlik

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