• Composites Research
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.22-27
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• 2004

The objective of this work is to design Surface Antenna Structure (SAS) and investigate fatigue behavior of SAS that is asymmetric sandwich structure. This term, SAS, indicates that structural surface becomes antenna. Constituent materials are selected considering electrical properties, dielectric constant and tangent loss as well as mechanical properties. For the antenna performance, SSSFIP elements inserted into structural layers were designed fur satellite communication at a resonant frequency of 12.5 GHz and final demonstration article was $16{\;}{\tiems}{\;}8$ array antenna. From electrical measurements, it was shown that antenna performances were in good agreement with design requirements. In cyclic 4-point bending, flexure behavior was investigated by static and fatigue test. Fatigue life curve of SAS was obtained. The fatigue load was determined experimentally at a 0.75 (1.875kN) load level, Experimental results were compared with single load level fatigue life prediction equations (SFLPE) and in good agreement with SFLPE. SAS concept is the first serious attempt at integration fur both antenna and composite engineers and promises innovative future communication technology.