Different from other building structures, the structural form, component size, cover wall thickness, material selection and structural details of the production of FRP radome must be designed with electrical characteristics in mind.
- The thickness of the cover wall: It is related to the working wavelength. Electrically, in order to reduce the reflection, a uniform single-wall or sandwich structure sandwich thickness must be designed according to the working wavelength. However, the selected wall thickness must be able to withstand the expected maximum aerodynamic load and other loads without damage or major deformation. For the design of the wall thickness, factors such as the operating frequency and the shape and size of the radome need to be considered, and the environmental conditions where the antenna is located must also be considered.
- Material selection: The materials used in the production of FRP radome also need to participate in the transmission of signals. Therefore, the higher the pass rate of the material used for electromagnetic waves, the better the transmission performance of the radome. The dielectric constant and loss angle cut difference at the operating frequency are small, and sufficient mechanical strength is required.
- Special structure: The thickness of the fiberglass radome is uneven during production, which will cause the diffraction and reflection of electromagnetic waves. Therefore, when we are producing the fiberglass radome, we should not install stiffeners for fear of insufficient strength. We prefer to add to the entire radome. Thick processing. Because when we set the stiffener, electromagnetic wave eddy current will appear at the position of the stiffener, which will also affect the position without the stiffener, and the signal transmission efficiency is far less than the effect after the overall thickening. In order to facilitate the manufacture, installation and transportation, the large rigid radome must adopt a block structure, and the spherical joint must be provided with a flange, which causes the cover wall to be uneven.
Therefore, in the design and production of FRP radome, electrical performance testing and structural performance testing are generally required to find a connection scheme with good comprehensive performance. In addition, the metal parts or metal connectors used should minimize electrical protection.
