Fatigue characteristics of composite antenna structure

Abstract

The objective of this work was to design Surface Antenna Structure (SAS) and investigate fatigue behavior of SAS that was asymmetric sandwich structure. This term, SAS, indicates that structural surface becomes antenna. Constituent materials were selected considering electrical properties, dielectric constant and tangent loss as well as mechanical properties. For the antenna performance, SSFIP elements inserted into structural layers were designed for satellite communication at a resonant frequency of 12.5 GHz and final demonstration article was 16 x 8 array antenna. In cyclic loading, flexure behavior was investigated by 4-point bending and 4-point bending fatigue test. Fatigue life curve of SAS was obtained. Experimental results were compared with single load level fatigue life prediction equations (SFLPEs) and in good agreement with SFLPEs. SAS concept is the first serious attempt at integration for both antenna and composite engineers.