RF Analyses of Integrated Ku-band Antenna

Abstract

In the ACASIAS project an integrated antenna for Ku-band satellite communication has been developed. The design of this integrated antenna has to meet structural, electromagnetic and thermal requirements. This paper addresses the electromagnetic performance of the antenna both by design and by measurement. For the design of the antenna, the electromagnetic interaction of the antenna with the conducting Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) ribs of the orthogrid and the interaction with the Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) skin of the panel have been analysed. In addition, the influence of potential lightning diverters on the antenna performance has been analysed. The radiation pattern of a single antenna tile and the radiation pattern of an antenna tile integrated in the orthogrid fuselage panel were measured. The results of the antenna measurements are compared with the results of the simulations carried out for the design of the antenna.

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References

[1] “Structural Integration of Ku-band SatCom Antenna into novel Fuselage Panel”, J. Verpoorte and A. Hulzinga, EMuS 2019 Conference.

[2] "Advanced Concepts for Aero-Structures with Integrated Antennas and Sensors (ACASIAS)", Yuri Konter, Jaco Verpoorte, AdriaanHulzinga, Marta Martínez Vázquez, ESA Antenna Workshop 2019.

[3] “Structurally integrated phased array antennas for aeronautical SatCom applications”, Marta Martínez-Vázquez, Jaco Verpoorte, Jens Leiß, Maren Willemsen, AdriaanHulzinga, Zdeněk Řezníček, submitted for EuCAP 2021.

[4] ITU recommendation S.1428-1 “Reference FSS earth-station radiation patterns for use in interference assessment involving non-GSO satellites in frequency bands between 10.7 GHz and 30 GHz”

[5] ETSI 302 186 “Harmonised Standard for satellite mobile Aircraft Earth Stations (AESs) operating in the 11/12/14 GHz frequency bands”