Reflectarray antenna for beam steering application

Abstract

This thesis presents a new reflectarray (RA) antenna design specifically developed for the X-band frequency range (8–12 GHz), utilizing advanced three-dimensional (3D) printing methods. The proposed RA demonstrates outstanding performance, achieving a minimal reflection loss of just 0.01 dB and offering a comprehensive phase adjustment capability of 360° (spanning from -180° to +180°), which is crucial for supporting wideband applications in modern communication systems. The design also delivers a significant gain improvement, surpassing 19.50 dB at a beam-steering angle of 55 degrees, illustrating its effective beam steering functionality. Employing 3D printing technology exclusively for fabrication not only lowers production cost and reduces the overall weight, but also increases the design flexibility. The RA is constructed with an ABS substrate (bottom layer) that is 1.6 mm thick and features a periodicity of 8.5 mm, resulting in a lightweight and versatile structure suitable for practical use. This research makes a meaningful contribution to the field of reflectarray antennas.