X-band waveguide array fed by a slotted waveguide

This work reports on the investigation and design of a waveguide feed for a slotted waveguide array antenna. The proposed method is presented for travelling wave waveguide antenna arrays that have been manufactured from carbon fibre reinforced plastic. The propagation of electromagnetic waves in these structures was simulated using the Finite Element Method. For the first time an anisotropic model for carbon fiber reinforced plastic laminates was used. It is proposed that this approach provides the accurate electromagnetic characteristics of the composite material. The model predicted that all the waveguide elements of an array could be fed efficiently by a single waveguide.