Important Considerations in Radome Design

Radomes are large dome-shaped units that are used to protect radars from inclement weather. Because they cover the radars, these structures must enable the electromagnetic signals to be received by the radar, and they should not distort or attenuate signals in any way.

Strength and Stability of Radomes

Radomes consist of a dome in the form of the frustum of a sphere. This dome is then mounted on a tower that may be circular, octagonal, or hexagonal in cross-section. One of the most important considerations when it comes to radome design is wind load. This is what radome manufacturers mostly focus on when it comes to the analysis of the strength and stability of the structure. Apart from that, the radome is also supposed to have good electromagnetic performance.

Sensor Sensitivity

The cover of any sensor can have an influence on the sensor’s sensitivity. It will also affect in some way the radiated antenna pattern and immunity to vibrations. When designing radomes, manufacturers focus on minimizing microwave reflection. If a radome is poorly constructed and microwave reflection is not taken into consideration, you may end up witnessing unwanted sensitivity on the backside of the sensor. Therefore, when manufacturing radomes, great care should be taken to minimize their influence on sensor sensitivity and on the field pattern of the radar antenna.

Material Considerations

The materials used to manufacture radomes must be dry and electrically isolating. It’s important to avoid any metallic parts. Manufacturers generally stay away from using plastic coatings with colors that contain metallic or carbon particles as well. Apart from the material selection, the radome cover should have material with a thickness of 3-4mm.

These are some of the factors that are considered in radome design. It’s important to ensure that the specifics are adhered to avoid interfering with the functionality of radar sensors.