Thermal and Structural Analysis of A Vascular Cooled Composite Radome

Abstract

To increase the efficiency of aircraft radome structures, the potential to integrate structural, cooling, and electromagnetic (EM) transmission functions into a composite radome is being investigated. The radome configuration includes micro-channels, used for flow of cooling fluids, and embedded copper layers, used to alter the EM transmission characteristics, incorporated into a composite panel. Concepts have been developed using low dielectric loss composite for manufacturing the multilayer structure required to incorporate these multifunctional characteristics. Structural analyses and conjugate heat transfer analyses have been performed to assess the effects of channel size and position on load-carrying capability and cooling capability. Results from the analyses have been used to identify candidate configurations that will be fabricated. Fabrication concepts and results of the structural and thermal analyses are presented.