Radome With Localized Reduced Radio Signal Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft radomes face a trade-off between mechanical strength and uniform radio signal transmission and reception properties, as meeting structural strength requirements often compromises signal attenuation, particularly in areas prone to foreign object impacts like bird strikes.
Innovation Solution
The radome design features decoupled mechanical and radio wave attenuation properties, with localized areas optimized for either strength or reduced attenuation, allowing for a stronger portion to withstand impacts and a weaker portion with better signal transmission/reception characteristics, minimizing signal loss across different frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the radome is made with uniform structural strength throughout, then it can withstand foreign object impacts, but radio signal attenuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radome is designed with non-uniform construction where different portions have different structural strengths and material compositions. Specifically, the forward-facing portions (first and second portions) are constructed with stronger materials to withstand bird strikes and foreign object impacts, while the rear portions (third and fourth portions) use lighter materials that provide reduced radio signal attenuation. This local differentiation allows each region to be optimized for its specific functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The radome is divided into multiple distinct portions (first, second, third, and fourth portions) with different structural and electromagnetic properties. The radome shell is segmented such that forward-facing areas have enhanced structural strength while rear areas have reduced attenuation characteristics, allowing the system to simultaneously meet both structural and electromagnetic performance requirements.
2Loss of energy
If the radome is made lighter with reduced attenuation areas, then radio signal transmission improves, but structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The radome implements local quality by making specific portions (third and fourth portions at the rear) lighter and more transparent to radio waves, while maintaining stronger construction in forward portions. This allows the radome to achieve reduced overall weight and improved radio signal transmission in critical areas without sacrificing structural strength where it is most needed for impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The radome employs composite material construction with different materials or material configurations in different portions. The forward portions use materials optimized for strength and impact resistance, while the rear portions use materials with lower dielectric constants and reduced radio signal attenuation, creating a composite structure that balances both structural and electromagnetic requirements.
3Reliability
If the radome is made uniformly strong to meet regulatory standards, then it complies with foreign object damage regulations, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radome applies local quality by concentrating structural strength only in the forward-facing portions (first and second portions) where foreign object impacts are most likely to occur during flight. The rear portions (third and fourth portions) are constructed with lighter materials since they are less susceptible to bird strikes and foreign object damage. This localized strengthening approach maintains compliance with foreign object damage regulations while significantly reducing overall radome weight.
Data Source
AI summary
A radome having localized areas of reduced radio signal attenuation includes a body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a reduced radio signal attenuation property in a transmit band and a second portion has a reduced radio signal attenuation property in a reception band.