Design and measurement of the first Iranian sandwich Radome panel for C – band weather radar application

The antenna radomes have been developed to protect antenna systems against harsh environmental conditions, with the most electromagnetic transparency. The wind speed of 220 km/h, -40 to 65 degrees Celsius of temperature deviations, 90 % of relative humidity (RH), protection for UV radiation and finally, one way electromagnetic loss of less than 0.3 dB along with the maximum difference between vertical and horizontal polarizations of 0.05 dB are the main requirements of the weather radar radomes. In this paper, engineering design and experimental studies of some samples of the first sandwich panel radome of C – band weather radar, including manufacturing process, buckling and electromagnetic experimental tests, have been briefly explained. In the material selection process the environmental requirement have been considered. Evaluation of mechanical stability of the radome under wind pressure has been studied in experimental buckle tests and finite element analysis with ABAQUS 6.12. Insertion loss test in anechoic chamber was done to evaluate the transparency of the sandwich panel samples. Buckling tests show that the manufactured sandwich panel can oppose safely with 190 N buckling load. According to the electromagnetic insertion loss tests of the manufactured panels show that the one way insertion loss and the difference between the vertical and horizontal polarizations, are in the range of the required limitations.