volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

We present a full-physics simulation workflow for modelling the installation and isolation of flush-mounted antenna arrays on rockets, which employs a combination of finite array domain decomposition method (FADDM) and shooting and bouncing rays (SBR) solver. An advanced domain decomposition method is first demonstrated, incorporating `non-identical' unit cells to efficiently solve a 4×4 antenna array residing in a metal cavity and operating in the X-band at 8.5 GHz. The proposed workflow eliminates the need for any computer-aided design (CAD) modifications for constructing conformal geometries of antennas and recesses in the fuselage, enabling seamless flush mounting of the array into an accurate model of a SpaceX Dragon capsule. The SBR simulation in the workflow is enabled with essential methodologies such as automati current conformance, creeping-wave physics, physical theory of diffraction, uniform theory of diffraction and current source reduction technique to obtain a high-fidelity yet computationally economical solution that determines radiation characteristics of installed antenna array and isolation between two flush-mounted antenna arrays.

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Dr. Akshaj Arora

Dr. Sahitya Singh

Dr. Irina Gordion

Dr. Shawn Carpenter