C. Karch, M. Calomfirescu, M. Rothenhäusler, C. Brand, H. Meister

In order to function correctly, all aerials including radar or satcom antennas need to be electrically external to metallic aircraft skin. However, antennas have an unacceptable aerodynamic shape and have to be protected from airflow forces by an EM-transparent structure. EM-transparent structures / radomes are constructed from dielectric material, offering no EM screening of the aerial to the external electric fields associated with lightning or atmospheric storm conditions. The antenna metallic structure presents a major electrical stress raiser and is a preferred target for a lightning strike. Whilst designing a radome, the primary considerations are mechanical strength, thermal, weight and radar transmission properties that are not fully compatible with high dielectric strength and lightning strike protection abilities. Additionally a lightning protection system has to be designed, which prevents lightning flashes from puncturing the radome structure and from damaging the antenna-receiver system. However, the lightning protection system should not have a significant impact on the antenna pattern. It is yet generally not possible to quantify all the lightning strike protection factors sufficiently accurate to have full confidence in any numerical prediction of the radome performance under lightning strike. High voltage testing that reproduces the lightning phase of the bidirectional leader development is therefore essential. The necessary experimental procedures needed for a lightning protection design of a generic satcom radome for a typical future MALE UAV are discussed in detail.

Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2017, München

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., Bonn, 2017

Conference Paper

englisch

21,0 x 29,7 cm, 7 Seiten

urn:nbn:de:101:1-201710132649

Blitzschutz, Radome

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13.10.2017