Characterization of electromagnetic properties of polymeric composite materials with free space method

The introduction of microwave radars during the second World War altered the air defense scenario significantly, and this led to the development of the “stealth” techniques. By reducing the detectability of aircrafts or warships, of which the radar cross section (RCS) is a measure, they could evade radar detection, which affected not only the mission success rate but also survival of them in the hostile territory. In the very early stage of the research on stealth techniques, many researches were mainly concentrated on the reduction of RCS and development of radar absorbing materials (RAM), but nowadays studies on investigating the radar absorbing structures (RAS) using fiber reinforced polymeric composite materials are becoming popular research field.

In this study, electromagnetic characteristics of unidirectional E-glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites were tested with free space methods, which can overcome drawbacks of conventional cavity and waveguide methods. Complex relative permittivities of low-loss composite were measured with respect to the angle between the fiber orientation and the electric field vector of EM wave in X-band frequency range. From the experimental data, empirical relation between the dielectric properties of composites and test variable was suggested and verified.     

EM characteristics of the RAS composed of E-glass/epoxy composite and single dipole FSS element

From the methods to reduce radar cross section (RCS) such as shaping of the target, radar absorbing material (RAM), and radar absorbing structure (RAS), the RAS composed of frequency selective surface (FSS) screens and low-loss composite materials is used widely because the FSS screen transmits or reflects electromagnetic (EM) waves selectively and the composite material withstands external loads. In this study, the RAS composed of the E-glass/epoxy composite and single dipole FSS element was fabricated by printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing process, and their EM transmission characteristics, such as a resonant frequency, a minimum transmission loss, and a transmission bandwidth, were measured in the X-band frequency range by the free space method with respect to the size of dipole element and its periodicity of array.     

Fabrication and design of multi-layered radar absorbing structures of MWNT-filled glass/epoxy plain-weave composites

The object of this study is to design radar absorbing structures (RAS) with load-bearing ability in the X-band. Glass/epoxy plain-weave composites of excellent specific stiffness and strength, containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) to induce dielectric loss, were fabricated. Observations of the microstructure and the permittivity of the composites confirmed that the fabrics are suitable for use as RASs. A genetic algorithm and a theory of the reflection/transmission of electromagnetic waves in a multi-layered RAS were applied to design an optimal RAS composed of MWNT-filled composites. The thickness per ply was observed to vary, depending on the number of plies and the MWNT contents. A fabrication process was proposed that considered the variation. The proposed process was in the fabrication of a designed RAS, and the theoretical and measured reflection losses of the RAS were found to be in good agreement.     

Development of the composite RAS (radar absorbing structure) for the X-band frequency range

Since the EM properties of fiber reinforced polymeric composites can be tailored effectively by adjusting its composition, they are plausible materials for fabricating the radar absorbing structure (RAS) of desired performance. In this study, the composite RAS which has superior load bearing capacity and EM absorption characteristics has been developed by blending the conductive carbon black with the binder matrix of the E-glass/polyester composite, and its EM absorption characteristics has been measured by the free space method in the X-band frequency range (8.2–12.4 GHz). The composite RAS was designed so as to have the optimal performance for the X-band centered at 10 GHz. From the investigation, it was found that the composite RAS of 2.93 mm thickness with the conductive carbon black absorbed more than 90% of incident EM wave throughout the entire X-band frequency range.     

Computational method for radar absorbing composite lattice grids

Composite lattice grids reinforced by glass fibers (GFRC) and carbon fibers (CFRC) filled with spongy materials can be designed as lightweight radar absorbing structures (RAS). In the present paper, a computational approach based on periodic moment method (PMM) has been developed to calculate reflection coefficients of radar absorbing composite lattice grids. Total reflection backing (TRB) is considered directly in our PMM program by treating it as a dielectric material with large imaginary part of permittivity. Two different mechanisms of reflection reduction for radar absorbing lattice grids are revealed. At low frequency, reflection coefficients increase with the volume fraction of the grid cell wall. At high frequency, several grating lobes propagate away from the doubly periodic plane, and reflection coefficients depend on both the cell wall volume fraction and interelement distance.     

Fabrication and electromagnetic characteristics of electromagnetic wave absorbing sandwich structures

The radar absorbing structures (RAS) having sandwich structures in the X-band (8.2–12.4 GHz) frequencies were designed and fabricated. We added conductive fillers such as carbon black and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) to composite prepregs and polyurethane foams so as to efficiently increase the absorbing capacity of RAS. In order to improve the mechanical stiffness of RAS, we adopted the sandwich structures made of composite face sheets and foam cores. Glass fabric/epoxy composites containing conductive carbon black and carbon fabric/epoxy composites were used for the face sheets. Polyurethane foams containing MWNT were used as the core material. Their permittivity in the X-band was measured using the transmission line technique. The reflection loss characteristics for multi-layered sandwich structures were calculated using the theory of transmission and reflection in a multi-layered medium. Three kinds of specimens were fabricated and their reflection losses in the X-band were measured using the free space technique. Experimental results were in good agreement with simulated ones in 10-dB absorbing bandwidth.     

Composite sandwich constructions for absorbing the electromagnetic waves

RAS (radar absorbing structures) is a key component for weapon systems such as aircrafts, warships, and missiles to achieve both the stealth performance by absorbing EM (Electromagnetic) waves incident on and load bearing capability. In this work, the RAS was fabricated as sandwich constructions composed of nanocomposite, carbon fabric/epoxy composite, and PVC foam. The nanocomposite composed of E-glass fabric, epoxy resin, and CNT (carbon nanotube) was adhesively bonded to the outside of the sandwich construction in order to absorb EM waves. The carbon fabric/epoxy composite had the dual roles as the reflection layer of incident EM waves and load bearing face material of sandwich constructions. Using the fabricated sandwich constructions, the EM absorbing characteristics were measured by the free space measurement system and the bonding characteristics between nanocomposites and carbon fabric/epoxy composites also were investigated.     

Impact damage response of natural stitched single lap-joint in composite structures

In this paper the damage behaviour of natural stitched composite single lap-joints are investigated under low velocity impact loading conditions. For this study, the laminated hybrid composite beams were pinned using Flax yarns before curing process. The Charpy impact test was chosen to study the energy absorbing capability of single lap composite joints. Composite beams were fabricated from combination of glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy composites. It was shown that composite beams which are stitched through the thickness are able to absorb more energy in comparison with adhesive bonded composite joints in the hybrid composite beams. The Charpy impact test of stitched composite single lap joint was also simulated by finite element analysis using software LS-DYNA and the results verified with relevant experimental data.     

石墨/碳化硅/铁氧体涂层复合材料性能研究

为了开发具备良好介电性能和力学性能的多功能吸波复合材料,以涤纶针织物为基布,以环氧树脂为基体,在基布上进行石墨/碳化硅/铁氧体三层复合涂层整理,制备1.5 mm涂层厚度的柔性纺织涂层复合材料.采用介电谱仪研究了吸波剂的含量对吸波涂层材料介电常数和损耗角正切的影响.鉴于该材料多用于工程领域,采用万能材料实验机测试了该复合材料的拉伸、弯曲、剪切等力学性能.结果表明,该复合材料在低频段具备良好的介电性能,且具备一定的力学性能.     

结构吸波纤维及其复合材料的研究进展

结构吸波纤维及其复合材料具有吸波性能好、质量轻、可承载等优点,已成为结构吸波材料的重要发展方向,对隐身武器的设计和制造具有重要意义.综述了结构吸波纤维及其复合材料的最新研究成果,探讨了碳纤维、碳化硅纤维、玻璃纤维增强吸波材料以及几种其它类型的结构型吸波材料,展望了结构吸波纤维及其复合材料的发展趋势.     

含镍碳化硅纤维的制备及其电磁性能Ⅱ.含镍碳化硅纤维的电磁性能

研究了含镍碳化硅纤维的电阻率和复电磁参烽。随着烧成温度和纤维内镍含量的提高,陶瓷纤维的电阻率下降,复电磁参数均增加。陶瓷纤维内的游离碳是影响纤维电阻率的主要因素。这种纤维与环氧树脂复合制成的结构吸波材料对雷达波具有良好的吸收。     

Crushing behaviour of composite hemispherical shells subjected to quasi-static axial compressive load

This paper examines the effects of composite constituents and geometry on the energy absorption capability of composite hemispherical shells. To examine the effects of matrix types on their energy absorption capability, glass fibre/epoxy and glass fibre/polyester hemispherical shells were fabricated. While glass fibre/epoxy and carbon fibre/epoxy hemispherical shells were fabricated to investigate the effect of fibre reinforcements. Effect of aspect ratio (R/t) was also examined and the results were presented. The results obtained showed that the energy absorption capability of the hemispherical shells significantly affected by the composite constituents as well as R/t ratio.     

Charpy impact damage behaviour of single and multi-delaminated hybrid composite beam structures

The ply delamination which is known as a principle mode of failure of layered composites due to separation along the interfaces of the layers is one of the main concerns in designing of composite material structures. In this regard, the effect of hybrid laminate lay-up with different delamination positions in composite beam was investigated. The Charpy impact test was chosen to study the energy absorbing capability of delaminated composite beam. Hybrid composite beams were fabricated from combination of glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy composites. It was shown that composite beams with closer position of delamination to impacted surface are able to absorb more energy in comparison with other delamination positions in hybrid and non-hybrid ones. The Charpy impact test of delaminated composite beams was also simulated by finite element software LS-DYNA and the results were verified with the relevant experimental results.     

Hybridization of carbon–glass epoxy composites: An approach to achieve low coefficient of thermal expansion at cryogenic temperatures

The paper is based on a study to develop carbon–glass epoxy hybrid composites with desirable thermal properties for applications at cryogenic temperatures. It analyzes the coefficient of thermal expansion of carbon–epoxy and glass–epoxy composite materials and compares it with the properties of carbon–glass epoxy hybrid composites in the temperature range 300 K to 125 K. Urethane modified epoxy matrix system is used to make the composite specimens suitable for use even for temperatures as low as 20 K. It is noted that the lay-up with 80% of carbon fibers in the total volume fraction of fibers oriented at 30° and 20% of glass fibers oriented at 0° yields near to zero coefficient of thermal expansion as the temperature is lowered from ambient to 125 K.     

多壁碳纳米管复合材料在8 mm 波段的吸波性能

将相同厚度不同碳纳米管含量, 以及不同厚度相同碳纳米管含量的多壁碳纳米管加入玻璃纤维增强复合材料中, 并研究了其在26. 5～40. 0 GHz 频段的吸波性能。结果发现, 多壁碳纳米管具有吸波性能, 而且吸波性能随着多壁碳纳米管含量的增加而提高。多壁碳纳米管/ 玻璃纤维/ 环氧树脂复合材料层板在26. 5～40. 0 GHz频段表现出较好的吸收效果, 其吸波性在于碳纳米管本身具有吸波性能, 此外还与吸波材料的谐振吸波原理有关。通过对该复合材料的电磁参数的测定并计算, 证明实验结果与吸波原理相符合。      

雷达隐身技术的研究现状及其展望

叙述了雷达隐身技术的工作原理、类型及研究现状,综述了雷达吸波涂层中使用的吸收剂、胶粘剂和助剂,并介绍了以聚氨酯为胶粘剂的涂层基体,对聚氨酯复合材料进行了展望.回顾了雷达吸波材料的研究和发展,介绍了雷达吸波材料若干新的发现、性能及应用,同时展望了雷达吸波材料的发展趋势和研究发展的重点.     

EM Analysis of Metamaterial Based Radar Absorbing Structure (RAS) for MillimeterWave Applications

The EM performance analysis of a multilayered metamaterial based radar absorbing structure (RAS) has been presented in this paper based on transmission line transfer matrix (TLTM) method for millimeter wave applications. The proposed metamaterial-RAS consists of cascaded DPS and MNG layers of identical configurations. It exhibits extremely low reflection (< 42 dB) at 95 GHz and absorbs more than 95% power of incident wave over the frequency range of 90.4- 100 GHz without metal backing for both TE and TM polarizations. In view of aerospace applications, the reflection, transmission, and absorption characteristics of the proposed metamaterial-RAS are also studied at different incident angles (0°, 30°, and 45°) for both polarizations.     

Polarization Independent Dual-band Metamaterial Based Radar Absorbing Structure (RAS) for MillimeterWave Applications

The EM analysis of multi-layered metamaterial based radar absorbing structure (RAS) with dual-band characteristics in millimeter wave frequency regime has been carried out in this paper using transmission line transfer matrix (TLTM) method for TE and TM polarizations. The proposed metamaterial-based RAS exhibits dual-band characteristics at centre frequencies 120 GHz and 175 GHz with very low power reflection. It absorbs more than 90% power of incidence wave over the frequency range from 111-131 GHz at first resonance and from 164.5-185 GHz at second resonance without metal backing plate, which is desirable for stealth applications. It also showed very low (< 1.6%) transmission over the frequency of interest for both TE and TM polarizations. The proposed metamaterial-RAS has potential applications in the design of multi-band sensor systems and RCS reduction in millimeter wave frequency regime.     

Interlaminar shear behavior of unidirectional glass fiber (U)/random glass fiber (R)/epoxy hybrid and non-hybrid composite laminates

The interlaminar shear behavior of unidirectional glass fiber (U)/random glass fiber (R)/epoxy hybrid composites was studied with short beam shear bending test. Random glass fiber (R)/epoxy means chopped fiber composite having short discontinuous fiber randomly dispersed in epoxy matrix. The effect of stacking sequence and unidirectional glass fiber relative volume fraction (V_fU/V_fT) on the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the manufactured composites has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The laminates were fabricated by hand lay-up technique with 5 plies. Two non-hybrid composite laminates [R]₅ and [U]₅ were fabricated using the same fabrication technique for the comparison purpose. The average thickness of the manufactured laminates is 5.5 ± 0.2 mm and the total fiber volume fraction (V_fT) is 37%. Failure modes of all specimens were investigated. Experimental results indicated that the ILSS of [U]₅ is higher than those of hybrid and [R]₅ composite. Hybrid composites have higher ILSS than that of random composites. The stacking sequence and (V_fU/V_fT) ratio have a detectable effect on ILSS of the investigated composites.     

Hybrid multi-scale composites developed from glass microfiber fabrics and nano-epoxy resins containing electrospun glass nanofibers

In this study, hybrid multi-scale composites were developed from glass microfiber fabrics (GFs) and nano-epoxy resins containing electrospun glass nanofibers (EGNFs). The hypothesis was that, through dispersing a small amount of EGNFs into epoxy resin, mechanical properties (particularly out-of-plane mechanical properties) of the resulting hybrid multi-scale composites would be significantly improved. The composites were fabricated by the technique of vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). The interlaminar shear strength, flexural properties, impact absorption energy, and tensile properties of the composites were evaluated, and the results were compared to those acquired from GFs/epoxy composite as well as GFs/epoxy composites containing chopped glass microfibers (GMFs); additionally, the reinforcement and/or toughening mechanisms were investigated. The study revealed that the nano-epoxy resin with 0.25 wt.% of EGNFs resulted in substantial improvements on mechanical properties of the resulting hybrid multi-scale composites.