Abstract: An integrated driveshaft cover antenna includes a driveshaft cover including a conductive layer and having a generally curved cross-section. The driveshaft cover is hingeably secured and electrically coupled to a helicopter tail boom section to cover a driveshaft access opening. The integrated drive shaft cover includes a dielectric layer including a first surface shaped to conform to a curved outer surface of the driveshaft cover and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface of the dielectric layer is positioned over the curved outer surface of the driveshaft cover. The first surface is secured to the curved outer surface of the driveshaft cover. The integrated drive shaft cover includes a slotted patch high frequency (HF) antenna layer having an inner slot and extends a majority of a length of the dielectric layer. The slotted patch HF antenna layer is secured to the second surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Antennas, integrated driveshaft covers, and methods are disclosed. A particular antenna includes a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a first curved surface and a second curved surface opposite the first curved surface. A conductive body has a curved outer surface, where the first curved surface of the dielectric layer is positioned against the curved outer surface. A high frequency (HF) antenna layer is positioned over positioned over the second curved surface of the dielectric layer, where the HF antenna layer is curved to conform to the second curved surface of the dielectric layer. A pair of contacts may be configured to receive an electrical connection for the HF antenna layer. When an HF signal is applied to the pair of contacts, the conductive body interacts with the HF antenna layer to radiate energy.

Abstract: Antennas, integrated driveshaft covers, and methods are disclosed. A particular antenna includes a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a first curved surface and a second curved surface opposite the first curved surface. A conductive body has a curved outer surface, where the first curved surface of the dielectric layer is positioned against the curved outer surface. A high frequency (HF) antenna layer is positioned over positioned over the second curved surface of the dielectric layer, where the HF antenna layer is curved to conform to the second curved surface of the dielectric layer. A pair of contacts may be configured to receive an electrical connection for the HF antenna layer. When an HF signal is applied to the pair of contacts, the conductive body interacts with the HF antenna layer to radiate energy.

Abstract: An antenna module for an electronically scanned phased array antenna is provided. In various embodiments, the module includes a transmit/receive (T/R) module layer including a plurality of T/R modules. The module additionally includes an external phase shifter layer that includes a plurality of sets of secondary phase shifters. Each secondary phase shifter set is associated with a specific one of the T/R modules. Furthermore, the module includes a horn antenna layer having a plurality of antenna horns. The horn antenna layer is positioned between the T/R module layer and the phase shifter layer such that each horn is aligned between one T/R module and the associated one of the sets of phase shifters.

Abstract: An antenna module for an electronically scanned phased array antenna is provided. In various embodiments, the module includes a transmit/receive (T/R) module layer including a plurality of T/R modules. The module additionally includes an external phase shifter layer that includes a plurality of sets of secondary phase shifters. Each secondary phase shifter set is associated with a specific one of the T/R modules. Furthermore, the module includes a horn antenna layer having a plurality of antenna horns. The horn antenna layer is positioned between the T/R module layer and the phase shifter layer such that each horn is aligned between one T/R module and the associated one of the sets of phase shifters.

Abstract: A standard reference deformation of a composite material containing a flowable phase and compressible inclusions, such as a prepreg, is measured as the deformation whereat the dominant compressive mode of composite deformation changes from that characteristic of compressible inclusion collapse to that characteristic of resin flow, termed the optimal consolidation deformation. Establishment of this point permits measurement and correlation of physically significant composite properties. For example, material properties of such composite materials are measured under a compressive loading by an ultrasonic transducer at the optimal consolidation deformation. At this point, normally determined to be the deformation at which the second derivative of compressive displacement falls to about zero, compressible inclusions such as voids are eliminated but the flowable phase has not yet begun to flow significantly so as to change the fractions of the phases.