On the design of conformal arrays on complex platforms

T. N. Kaifas, J. N. Sahalos

Presentation of the design procedure for arrays on various platforms is given in the work at hand. First, the EM radiation response of the platforms due to the array elements presence is characterised. Afterwards, the above radiation response is used to synthesize an array with the desired pattern. Circular cylinders, paraboloids and elliptic cones are some of the platforms we study as hosts of the conformal arrays. The position of the elements of the arrays on the above structures can be characterised by one or two independent variables. The excitation of the conformal array is found by using classical procedures like LMSE or OM, when the desired electric field is given. If the element positions on the platform have to be derived, we start from an initial array and we perturb the elements by using an iterative technique. The final position of the elements is found from the last iteration where the desired approximation of the pattern is obtained. It is noticed that the successful issue comes from a suitable selection of the initial array.

Several examples for different platforms and arrays will be presented.