Microwave NDT of Smart Composite Structures with Embedded Antennas

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Non-Destructive Testing

Background:

• Antenna integration in composite structures is vital for advanced wireless communications and smart structures.
• Ensuring the structural integrity of these embedded antennas against external factors is critical.
• In situ inspection methods are needed to detect anomalies and predict failures in antenna-embedded composites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce microwave non-destructive testing (NDT) for antenna-embedded composite structures.
• To demonstrate the capability of a planar resonator probe for high-resolution imaging.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of microwave NDT in assessing structural integrity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a planar resonator probe operating in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) range (~525 MHz).
• Imaged a C-band patch antenna integrated within a composite structure (aramid paper honeycomb substrate with GFRP cover).
• Performed qualitative and quantitative evaluations comparing the planar resonator probe with a conventional K-band rectangular aperture probe.

Main Results:

• Achieved high-resolution imaging of the antenna-embedded composite structure.
• Demonstrated the distinct advantages of microwave NDT for inspecting such complex systems.
• Presented comparative analysis of imaging results from both probe types.

Conclusions:

• Microwave NDT is presented as a pioneering technique for inspecting antenna-embedded composite structures.
• The planar resonator probe shows significant potential for high-resolution imaging and structural integrity assessment.
• Microwave NDT is a viable and valuable tool for the inspection of smart structures.