System Development of Transmitting Conformal SATCOM Array Antenna Structures(CSAAS)

Abstract

This study presents the development results of Conformal SATCOM Array Antenna Structure(CSAAS) for transmitting. Tile Type antenna with 8x8 antenna element array has been developed instead of reflector antenna. 8x8 tile antennas are arrayed on the curved surface with one directional curvature to simulate aircraft skin configuration. Housing has the grid structure to minimize out-of-plane deformation that affects the antenna performances. Tile antennas are attached to the surfaces between grids. Radome is designed as an A-sandwich type to carry some distributed skin load and glass epoxy material with lowest dielectric constant and loss tangent was used for the best electromagnetic performance. One tile antenna is designed with a separate data control and power connection for vertical and horizontal polarization. The static structural strength of the housing and impact strength of the radome were verified by the analysis and tests. Beam pattern test, beam control test and beam steering test are performed in an anechoic chamber for the transmitting CSAAS. The results of structural and electromagnetic tests showed that the design objects met the goal successfully.

Full document

References

[1] Baek, S.M., Go, M.G., Kim, M.S. and Joo, Y.S. Structural Design of conformal load- bearing array antenna structures(CLAAS). Advanced Composite Materials, Vol. 25, (2017):29-42.

[2] Mackenzie, Anne I., Electromagnetic Modeling for the Conformal Lightweight Antenna System for Aeronautical Communications Technologies(CLAS-ACT) Program: Final Report. NASA/TM-2019-220293, NASA Langley,(2019).