Kresling origami-inspired reconfigurable antenna with spherical cap

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2022.107470Get rights and content

Highlights

  • In order to realize the frequency reconfigurability of helical antenna and increase frequency bandwidth, this paper adds a spherical shell to the top of the Kresling origami, so as to achieve maximum frequency reconfiguration and electromagnetic stealth.

  • The mechanical properties of the designed antenna during the smart deployment process are analyzed, which can be helically deployed, with super-large compressibility and torsion-contraction coupling effect. The accuracy of calculation method of Kresling origami-based reconfigurable helical antenna is analyzed, and its geometry is changed to control the performance parameters over time and achieve versatility.

  • The effects of the length of the metal strips and different instability configurations of spherical shell on the frequency reconfigurability of the antenna in deployable and folded configurations are analyzed. Multi-Port and omnidirectional bending and twisting are used to explore the effect of antenna geometry reconfiguration on electromagnetics.

  • Multiple antennas working at different frequencies but with similar radiation characteristics are concentrated into the same combined antenna aperture through reconstruction, so that the antenna has the capability of multi-frequency operation. Designed antenna has the advantages of compact stowage, easy deployment, light weight, enhanced electromagnetic performance, and multi-functional practicability, which can be widely used in wireless communication systems to provide various services.

Abstract

Foldable and reconfigurable helical antennas change shape to adapt and reconfigure their electromagnetic properties. In order to realize the frequency reconfigurability of helical antennas and increase frequency bandwidth, this paper adds a spherical shell to the top of the Kresling origami, so as to achieve maximum frequency reconfiguration and electromagnetic stealth. First, the mechanical properties of the designed antenna during the smart deployment process are analyzed, which can be helically deployed, with super-large compressibility and torsion-contraction coupling effect. Then, the accuracy of the calculation method of Kresling origami-based reconfigurable helical antenna is analyzed, and its geometry is changed to control the performance parameters over time and achieve versatility. Third, the effects of the length of the metal strips and different instability configurations of the spherical shell on the frequency reconfigurability of the antenna in deployable and folded configurations are analyzed. Fourth, multi-port and omnidirectional bending and twisting are used to explore the effect of antenna geometry reconfiguration on electromagnetics. Finally, multiple antennas working at different frequencies but with similar radiation characteristics are concentrated into the same combined antenna aperture through reconstruction, so that the antenna has the capability of multi-frequency operation. Designed antenna has the advantages of compact stowage, easy deployment, light weight, enhanced electromagnetic performance, and multi-functional practicability, which can be widely used in wireless communication systems to provide various services.

Introduction

Origami, the art of paper folding, can realize the transformation from folded configuration to deployed configuration and has unfolded engineering applications in various fields [1], [2], [3], [4]. Origami can be folded to minimize their volume for storage and transport, then deployed into an extended state in their operational environment. Because of its ability to undergo both vertical and rotational deformations during deployment, the Kresling origami patten has been extensively studied [5], [6], [7], [8]. For Kresling origami pattern that has only one rotational DOF, the crease pattern arises naturally from the twist buckling of a thin cylinder [9], [10], [11]. It is characterized by alternating mountain and valley folds angled along the direction of the twist [12], [13], [14], [15]. Under application of an in-plane torque, the folded origami gradually deploys with the increased torque and snaps to the stable state after it overcomes the energy barrier [16, 17]. The bistability and tailorable energy barriers in Kresling origami pattern provide large design space for applications in various fields [18,19].

More recently, structures that are able to switch between two different configurations have attracted interest for applications in which morphing between states is desirable [20,21]. Perhaps the simplest example of bistability is exhibited by spherical caps, and can be demonstrated by cutting a section of tennis ball [22], [23], [24]. On the other hand, snapping instabilities can also be a powerful nonlinear mechanism that separates the slow input signal from the deformation of the output and sets off fast events [25], [26], [27].

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are types of stimuli-responsive smart composite materials that can revert to their original shapes from temporary shapes when exposed to an external stimulus [28,29]. Thermally activated SMPs undergo shape changes when subjected to heat and have been previously applied in self-foldable active origami. SMPs operate at a lower load level, and typically undergo only one actuation cycle unless mechanical loads are applied to reset their initial configuration. Nonetheless, SMPs are inexpensive, lightweight, flexible, and exhibit inelastic recoverable strains up to 100%. Smart drives can obtain higher precision, higher storage rate, good deployable controllability, and low bulk density. The disadvantage is that the process is complicated [30], [31], [32], [33].

Origami oriented technology offers very efficient and low-cost alternatives, enabling flexible and deployable antennas that were previously impossible with conventional antenna fabrication processes [34]. Fabricating origami antennas is very fast, since they simply require folded paper sheets as the antenna substrate and copper film as the conductor pattern [35,36]. High-performance antenna systems that are reconfigurable, tunable, multifunctional, deployable, and ultra-wideband are expected to play an important role in next-generation communication, reconnaissance, sensing, and energy harvesting systems for airborne, spaceborne, and terrestrial applications [37,38]. Reconfigurability is the capacity to change antenna operating characteristics, such as frequency, radiation pattern, polarization, or a combination; which can significantly improve system performance and reduce the number of antennas required, hence miniaturizing communication systems [39,40]. Reconfigurable helical antennas can be similarly designed using Kresling origami. Due to their high gain and circular polarization, helical antennas can be used in a wide range of situations [41].

Due to its high gain and circular polarization, conventional helical antennas have been widely utilized in satellite communications and global positioning systems. At lower frequencies, the physical size of helical antennas grows significantly and requires a sturdy mechanical support. The stability, robustness, and self-deployment of origami antennas are some of the issues that need to be solved in order to create more practically deployable origami antennas in the microwave frequency band [42,43]. A resonant antenna exploits resonance at the half- or quarter-wavelength level. Consequently, its operating frequency is determined by the antenna's length. Due to origami's three-dimensional geometry, frequency reconfigurability can be done by folding and unfolding the origami geometry, which has the same impact as a change in length or height [44,45]. Direction of the antenna on the radiation plane determines the antenna's radiation pattern. Due to the fact that the 2D planar origami pattern may be turned into 3D structural geometry, the antenna radiation pattern can be altered by folding and unfolding the origami antenna [46]. In addition, when a basic 2D pattern is transformed into a multilater 3D structure, mode modification can produce distinct radiation patterns. The orientation of the electric or magnetic current source of the antenna determines the polarization of the antenna. Because the origami geometry can alter the antenna's orientation, the antenna's polarization can be altered by folding or unfolding the antenna [47], [48], [49].

Reconstruction refers to the relationship between each array in the multi-antenna array that can be flexible and variable according to the actual situation, not fixed [53,54]. It is mainly reconstructed by adjusting the state of the formation device to achieve the performance of antenna. In order to avoid exposing targets and improve anti-interference capabilities, the antenna is usually required to have multi-frequency work capacity [55,56]. How to concentrate on multiple antennas that work at different frequencies and radiation characteristics through the same antenna caliber, which is the main goal of frequency reconstruction in antenna research design [57,58]. Generally speaking, the reconstruction of antenna design ignores the complex signal formation and processing processes of launch and receiver [59,60].

In this paper, in order to achieve the reconstruction of frequency, increase the bandwidth, a spherical cap is added to the top of the helical antenna, thereby achieving greater frequency reconstruction and RCS stealth. A reconfigurable helical antenna based on the SMP Kresling origami pattern with a spherical cap is presented, which is also very well suited for spaceborne and airborne applications due to its electromagnetic performance, compatibility, and deployability. First, the mechanical behavior of the spherical cap and the deployment mechanism of the Kresling origami pattern with spherical cap are evaluated. Then, the accuracy of reconfigurable helical antenna based on Kresling origami pattern are studied, and make a parametric study for reconfigurable resonant frequency. Thirdly, electromagnetic analysis and RCS reduction of Kresling origami pattern with spherical cap are analyzed. Finally, multiple ports on the performance of the designed antenna are studied, and the antenna is applied to the mechanical load to achieve omnidirectional bending and twisting. Combined antennas of various components have been proposed to achieve reconfigurability of the antenna for larger frequency bandwidth. The proposed antenna is based on paper substrate providing a light-weight, low-cost, multifunctional, compact, and possibly disposable design.

Section snippets

Deployment mechanism of kresling origami pattern with spherical cap

As shown in Fig. 1(a), the radius of the spherical shell is 30 mm, and the heights are 9 mm and 18 mm, respectively. The model is prepared by 3D printing, and the material is TPU. The test is carried out on a tensile testing machine with displacement loads applied at the apex of the spherical cap. The force-displacement curve is measured and compared with finite element simulation results by ABAQUS. With the increase of displacement, the spherical cap undergoes snap-through instability and

The accuracy and parametric study of reconfigurable helical antenna based on kresling origami pattern

Kresling origami patterns can be used to design origami helical antennas. The conductive thread traced in yellow is placed along the diagonal of unit, finally combining the origami pattern (white) with the helix appropriately. A rectangular piece of cardboard with copper tape is placed on the bottom of the origami antenna to form a ground plane, and an SMA connector is soldered to the antenna to feed it.

In the desired frequency range (0 to 3 GHz), the dielectric constant and dielectric loss

Electromagnetic analysis and rcs reduction of kresling origami pattern with spherical cap

As shown in Fig. 5(a), the radius of spherical cap is 18 mm. The resonant frequencies of the model without upper metal strip and with convex shell are: 1.43 GHz, 2.05 GHz, 2.63 GHz, and the resonant frequencies of the model with top metal strips and convex shell are: 1.20 GHz, 1.67 GHz, 2.14 GHz, 2.57 GHz, 2.92 GHz. The offset of the maximum frequency is 0.45 GHz. The resonant frequencies of the model with spherical cap of intermediate state are: 1.20 GHz, 1.72 GHz, 2.57 GHz, 2.93 GHz, and the

Conclusions

Through the analysis of the designed smart helical antenna with a spherical shell, the following conclusions are drawn:

  • The smart deployable process of Kresling origami is divided into 4 stages. In smart deployable stage, as the temperature increases, the folded structure gradually returns to the initial deployable state, which can be helically unfolded with super-large compressibility and torsion-shrinkage coupling effect. The snap-through instability mechanism of the spherical shell is studied

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Ji Zhang: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization. Lamei Zhang: Investigation, Supervision, Validation, Writing – review & editing. Changguo Wang: Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Project administration, Funding acquisition.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Data Availability Statement

All data and models used during the study appear in the submitted article.

All authors have read and approved to submit to International Journal of Mechanical Sciences.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant 11872160,12172102) and the Science Foundation of the National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Advanced Composites in Special Environments (grant JCKYS2020603C007).

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