On the Optimization of the Transmission Performance of a Broadband A-Sandwich Radome Wall Structure

Abstract: In this work, the microwave propagation characteristics of a planar A-sandwich broadband radome wall structure (Glass epoxy/PU foam/Glass epoxy) were investigated using the characteristic matrix formalism. Theoretical results were compared with those from COMSOL Multiphysics software under varying parameters. At optimal thickness values of the skin (d1) of the Glass epoxy and the core (d2) of the PU foam layers, zero reflectance and minimal absorbance (< 2%) were observed at normal incidence, leading to a highly transparent sandwich structure with > 98% transmittance at 3 GHz. Optimization of the core thickness revealed significant improvement in transmittance versus frequency and angle of incidence. The A-sandwich with a skin layer thickness of 0.60 mm and a core layer thickness of 5 mm exhibited high transmittance for a broad frequency band, extending to the X-band at normal incidence. Also, the A-sandwich exhibited high transparency at all angles of incidence for electromagnetic waves with frequencies at the center of the S-band and the X-band. These results demonstrate the feasibility of optimizing planar A-sandwich as a broadband, high-performance radome wall structure for a wide range of frequencies and angles of incidence. Keywords: A-sandwich radomes, Characteristic matrix, Transmittance, TE and TM waves.