Collaboration demonstrates how metamaterials can be embedded into composite materials opening up new commercial opportunities
A collaboration between The University of Exeter (UoE) and Technical Composite Systems (TCS) investigated how metasurfaces could be incorporated into complex radome components.
The proof-of-concept developed showed that multi-layered metamaterials can be embedded within complex, curved composite parts to provide tailored electromagnetic properties, offering new design options for the aerospace, communications and defence sectors.
Proof-of-Concept
Composite Structures
Collaboration
Radome Design
Graphic showing proof-of-concept structure
Microwave metasurfaces (metallic pattern arrays, typically on thin dielectric substrates) can be used in communications to provide functionalities such as:
Reducing antenna dimensions
Beam-shaping
Frequency filtering and protection for radomes.
While these applications are typically demonstrated with flat metasurfaces, it is possible to create impedance profiles that enable these functionalities across complex, curved profiles.
Impact
Many of the structures that could usefully house devices such as antennas, tags, sensors and electromagnetic filters are not simple in shape. For example, a composite panel on a vehicle may be a good location for an embedded antenna, but is likely to be curved and complex in shape due to other requirements such as an aerodynamic form. The ability to integrate metamaterials into singly- or doubly-curved objects of arbitrary shape is a useful tool in any product design process.
Applications
This technique is applicable to needs such as the design of radomes (protective covers and filters for antenna systems), embedding devices into composite structures such as vehicles, and any other application where a metasurface is required to follow a non-planar profile.
A complex-shaped radome (i.e. antennae cover) produced by Technical Composite Systems Ltd [1] and the University of Exeter
