Broadband low-cost reflectarray for multi-mission radar applications

The design of a microstrip reflectarray with two types of element configurations for multi-mission radars is presented. The proposed element configurations can provide an increased phasing range of single-layer unit cells that exceeds the required minimum of 360°. An air/foam layer is inserted between substrate and conducting ground to offer a slow phase slope as their varying sizes, and thus gives a good manufacturing tolerance. The performance of the designed reflectarray is investigated via full-wave EM simulations, and the measurements of the reflectarray which is carried out in the anechoic chamber of University of Oklahoma are compared with simulations.