Hierarchical lattice composites for electromagnetic and mechanical energy absorptions

A new hierarchical radar absorbing structure with multifunction of ultra-light weight, anti-crushing and radar absorption was designed and made by glass fiber reinforced lattice composites filled with radar absorbing foams. Experiments were performed to reveal the electromagnetic absorption and anti-crushing behaviors. Mechanisms of the composite in electromagnetic absorption and anti-crushing were analyzed. The newly designed composite lattice displays excellent performances in absorbing both microwave and mechanical energies at ultra-light weight. To balance the anti-crushing and radar absorption behaviors, key factors of the composite lattices, including the panel thickness, the relative density of the lattice, the cell dimension and the geometry, were revealed based on the analysis and experiments. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.