Investigation on frequency-reconfigurable antenna of NiTi shape memory alloy based on SLM

Aiming at the demand of variable configuration and reconfigurable antenna technology for space equipment such as satellites, a frequency reconfigurable antenna manufacturing method based on laser Selective Melting (SLM) NiTi shape memory alloy is proposed. Firstly, the SLM process is studied by experiments, and the electromagnetic properties of NiTi alloy with defects are analyzed. The shape memory effect and the functional characteristics of superelasticity are revealed. On this basis, a frequency reconfigurable satellite antenna based on NiTi shape memory alloy is developed. S11 measurement and microwave darkroom gain test show that the antenna is tunable in the 7.7-12.6 GHz band, with a maximum gain of 6.2 dBi and a reflection loss of less than -10 dB.