Composite Radome Structure for Low Dielectric Antenna Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional radomes made from thermoplastic materials like PC have high dielectric constants, obstructing electromagnetic waves and leading to low transmission rates and poor antenna performance.
Innovation Solution
A radome design using a core layer with a low dielectric constant, sandwiched between two skin layers, eliminates the need for edge sealing, allowing the entire structure to serve as a radiation region and reducing dielectric constant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional thermoplastic materials like PC are used to make radomes through injection moulding, then the radome has good mechanical performance and can withstand external harsh environment, but the high dielectric constant of these materials significantly obstructs electromagnetic waves, leading to low transmission rates and poor antenna performance
Solution Approach 1:
The radome adopts a composite sandwich structure consisting of a foam core layer with low dielectric constant (1.05-1.35) and skin layers made of thermoplastic material. This composite structure combines the low dielectric properties of foam materials with the mechanical strength of thermoplastic skin layers, achieving both low dielectric constant and good mechanical performance simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the radome are assigned different material properties: the core layer uses foam material with low dielectric constant to minimize electromagnetic wave obstruction, while the skin layers use thermoplastic material with high mechanical strength to provide structural integrity and environmental resistance. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between mechanical performance and dielectric constant
2Strength
If edge sealing is used to protect the core layer in traditional sandwich structures, then the core layer is protected, but the sealing edges occupy space within the radome, affecting antenna performance and increasing the size of the radome
Solution Approach 1:
The skin layers are directly bonded to the core layer through hot pressing, merging the protective function with the structural layers themselves. The skin layers serve both as structural components and as protective barriers for the core layer, eliminating the need for separate sealing edges and reducing the overall radome size
Solution Approach 2:
The separate sealing edge component is extracted and eliminated from the design. Instead of adding sealing edges to protect the core layer, the design uses the skin layers themselves to provide protection through direct bonding, removing the unnecessary volume occupied by sealing edges
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a sandwich core structure is used to reduce dielectric constant, then the dielectric constant is reduced, but the structure requires sealing edges to protect the core layer, which occupies space and affects antenna performance
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is merged into the skin layers themselves through direct bonding to the core layer. This integration eliminates the need for separate sealing components, reducing structural complexity while maintaining the low dielectric constant advantage of the sandwich core structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves antenna performance and reduces radome size by minimizing dielectric interference and eliminating the need for edge sealing, while maintaining mechanical integrity.
Implementation Method 1
placing the mould in a moulding machine for hot pressing, so as to form the first skin layer, the radome body, the core layer and the second skin layer by hot pressing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Provide are a radome, which comprises a radome body and a composite panel. The radome body is provided with a hollow region, which has a first opening and a second opening in a first direction. The first direction is a thickness direction of the radome body. The composite panel comprises a core layer, a first skin layer and a second skin layer. The core layer is embedded in the hollow region and has a first side and a second side opposite to each other in the first direction. The first skin layer is sealingly attached to the first side and covers the first opening. The second skin layer is sealingly attached to the second side and covers the second opening. The core layer is made of a low dielectric constant material, and the peripheral edge of the core layer extends to abut against the inner wall of the hollow region.