Effect of Wire Space and Weaving Pattern on Performance of Microstrip Antennas Integrated in the Three Dimensional Orthogonal Woven Composites

Abstract

A conformal load-bearing antenna structure (CLAS) combines the antenna into a composite structure such that it can carry the designed load while functioning as an antenna. Novel microstrip antennas woven into the three dimensional orthogonal woven composite were proposed in our previous study. In order to determine the effect of the space between the conductive wires on the antenna performance, different space ratios of 1.7, 2.3 and 4.6 were considered in the design. Simulation results showed that when the space ratio increased, the frequency shift and return loss of the corresponding antenna became larger. And the antenna had relatively good performance when the space ratio reached 1.7. Two types of antennas were designed and fabricated with the ratio of 1.7 and 1 respectively and both of them obtained agreeable results. It was also demonstrated by the experimental that the orthogonal structure patch antenna had similar radiation pattern with the traditional copper foil microstrip antenna. However, the interlaced patch antenna had large back and side lobes in the radiation pattern because the existence of the curvature of copper wires in interlaced coupons lowered the reflective efficiency of the ground.

Electromagnetic performance and impact damage of the microstrip antennas integrated in cylindrical three dimensional woven composite structures

“…In addition, the conductive grid structure of the ground plane degraded the shielding function to backside, rendering the bigger back lobe in radiation pattern. Therefore, an increased fabric count and a tighter structure could minimize the electromagnetic loss, resulting in an improved radiation properties of the 3DIMAs .…”

Design and Characterization of Conformal Microstrip Antennas Integrated into 3D Orthogonal Woven Fabrics

“…The gain does not reach the largest value at the resonant frequency of 1.75GHz as shown in the measured return loss the antenna mainly due to the directivity accuracy for the woven antenna. In our previous paper, how the space ratios and woven structure would affect the antenna properties has been discussed [12]. In that paper, the space ratio has been determined as less than 1.7.…”

Effect of Yarn Distortion on the Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Bar Composites Reinforced by Three-Dimensional Weaving

“…Due to the inherent variability of their micro-and meso-structural characteristics as a result of intrinsic scatter in raw material data and manufacturing processes, many composite materials exhibit considerable uncertainties in their macro-scale mechanical properties [10][11][12][13][14]. Cuong et al [15] showed that fibers friction coefficients have much effect on the ballistic performance of the interlock woven fabrics.…”