Experimental Investigation and Simulation of Electro-Mechanical Behaviour of Hybrid Sandwich Composite Radomes for Aerospace Applications

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the material selection, manufacturing, and Electro-Mechanical testing of radomes made from Polymer Matrix Sandwich Composite materials. The objective is to achieve optimal electromagnetic (EM) and mechanical performance using a combination of PMI foam cor...

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Main Authors: Zhaib Muneer Ahmed, Muhammad Ali Nasir, Zafar Iqbal, Muhammad Talha Aamir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Semnan University 2024-11-01
Series:Mechanics of Advanced Composite Structures
Subjects:
Online Access:https://macs.semnan.ac.ir/article_8564_50620e5420f7629df64dc240522ce6ae.pdf
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author Zhaib Muneer Ahmed
Muhammad Ali Nasir
Zafar Iqbal
Muhammad Talha Aamir
author_facet Zhaib Muneer Ahmed
Muhammad Ali Nasir
Zafar Iqbal
Muhammad Talha Aamir
author_sort Zhaib Muneer Ahmed
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents a comprehensive study of the material selection, manufacturing, and Electro-Mechanical testing of radomes made from Polymer Matrix Sandwich Composite materials. The objective is to achieve optimal electromagnetic (EM) and mechanical performance using a combination of PMI foam core and hybrid face sheets (Kevlar & S Glass) sandwich composite structures. The selection of the material configuration was based on a Multi Criteria Decision Matrix (MCDM) method to meet the requirements of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) transparency and aerodynamic/inertial loads during flights. A full-scale nose radome was manufactured using a hand-layup technique assisted by vacuum bagging, specifically designed for flight vehicles with speeds up to <0.8 Mach. The EMI behavior of the radome was experimentally tested using the free space measurement method and verified through numerical modeling in Altair FEKO software, which showed minimal EM losses of 3% and <1% respectively. Multiple specimens were prepared to determine the mechanical properties and were tested according to ASTM standards for tensile and flexural properties. Additionally, finite element modeling (FE) was employed to validate the mechanical properties of the radome, ensuring that it meets the required constraints. The combined results from the EMI testing, FE modeling, and mechanical testing provided an optimum combination of materials and structure that satisfies the functional requirements of the radome.
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spelling doaj-art-5b51ed730a1e465c870e91fe1d1044032025-08-20T02:49:16ZengSemnan UniversityMechanics of Advanced Composite Structures2423-48262423-70432024-11-0111240141210.22075/macs.2024.30908.15178564Experimental Investigation and Simulation of Electro-Mechanical Behaviour of Hybrid Sandwich Composite Radomes for Aerospace ApplicationsZhaib Muneer Ahmed0Muhammad Ali Nasir1Zafar Iqbal2Muhammad Talha Aamir3Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Taxila, Rawalpindi, Punjab 47050, PakistanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Taxila, Rawalpindi, Punjab 47050, PakistanSchool of Chemical & Materials Engineering (SCME), National University of Science & Technology (NUST) Islamabad, PakistanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Taxila, Rawalpindi, Punjab 47050, PakistanThis paper presents a comprehensive study of the material selection, manufacturing, and Electro-Mechanical testing of radomes made from Polymer Matrix Sandwich Composite materials. The objective is to achieve optimal electromagnetic (EM) and mechanical performance using a combination of PMI foam core and hybrid face sheets (Kevlar & S Glass) sandwich composite structures. The selection of the material configuration was based on a Multi Criteria Decision Matrix (MCDM) method to meet the requirements of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) transparency and aerodynamic/inertial loads during flights. A full-scale nose radome was manufactured using a hand-layup technique assisted by vacuum bagging, specifically designed for flight vehicles with speeds up to <0.8 Mach. The EMI behavior of the radome was experimentally tested using the free space measurement method and verified through numerical modeling in Altair FEKO software, which showed minimal EM losses of 3% and <1% respectively. Multiple specimens were prepared to determine the mechanical properties and were tested according to ASTM standards for tensile and flexural properties. Additionally, finite element modeling (FE) was employed to validate the mechanical properties of the radome, ensuring that it meets the required constraints. The combined results from the EMI testing, FE modeling, and mechanical testing provided an optimum combination of materials and structure that satisfies the functional requirements of the radome.https://macs.semnan.ac.ir/article_8564_50620e5420f7629df64dc240522ce6ae.pdfhybrid sandwich compositesnose radomesmcdmelectro-mechanical characterisation
spellingShingle Zhaib Muneer Ahmed
Muhammad Ali Nasir
Zafar Iqbal
Muhammad Talha Aamir
Experimental Investigation and Simulation of Electro-Mechanical Behaviour of Hybrid Sandwich Composite Radomes for Aerospace Applications
Mechanics of Advanced Composite Structures
hybrid sandwich composites
nose radomes
mcdm
electro-mechanical characterisation
title Experimental Investigation and Simulation of Electro-Mechanical Behaviour of Hybrid Sandwich Composite Radomes for Aerospace Applications
title_full Experimental Investigation and Simulation of Electro-Mechanical Behaviour of Hybrid Sandwich Composite Radomes for Aerospace Applications
title_fullStr Experimental Investigation and Simulation of Electro-Mechanical Behaviour of Hybrid Sandwich Composite Radomes for Aerospace Applications
title_full_unstemmed Experimental Investigation and Simulation of Electro-Mechanical Behaviour of Hybrid Sandwich Composite Radomes for Aerospace Applications
title_short Experimental Investigation and Simulation of Electro-Mechanical Behaviour of Hybrid Sandwich Composite Radomes for Aerospace Applications
title_sort experimental investigation and simulation of electro mechanical behaviour of hybrid sandwich composite radomes for aerospace applications
topic hybrid sandwich composites
nose radomes
mcdm
electro-mechanical characterisation
url https://macs.semnan.ac.ir/article_8564_50620e5420f7629df64dc240522ce6ae.pdf
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AT zafariqbal experimentalinvestigationandsimulationofelectromechanicalbehaviourofhybridsandwichcompositeradomesforaerospaceapplications
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