Characteristics of Low-Frequency Metasurface Microwave Absorption Filter with Composite Molding and Size Dependency

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics and Materials Science
• Applied Physics
• Microwave Engineering

Background:

• Stealth technology requires effective microwave absorption, especially at low frequencies.
• Metasurfaces offer tunable electromagnetic properties for advanced applications.
• Subwavelength structures are crucial for lightweight and conformal designs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a lightweight metasurface microwave absorption filter (MMAF) for low-frequency stealth.
• To optimize the metasurface for broadband absorption using a genetic algorithm.
• To evaluate the performance and scalability of the MMAF.

Main Methods:

• Genetic algorithm optimization for metasurface design.
• Fabrication of a multi-layered MMAF on a glass fiber-reinforced plastic substrate.
• Electromagnetic characterization using reflection coefficient measurements.
• Scalability assessment through array configuration and composite molding.

Main Results:

• The MMAF achieved broadband absorption with a reflection coefficient below -10 dB from 1.01 to 1.78 GHz.
• The device exhibited subwavelength thickness, contributing to its lightweight nature.
• Experimental validation confirmed stable performance and scalability, with array configurations mimicking larger structures.

Conclusions:

• The developed MMAF is a promising solution for low-frequency stealth applications.
• The genetic algorithm optimization effectively achieved broadband absorption.
• The scalable and conformal nature of the MMAF allows for versatile deployment on various platforms.