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.