3-D Printing of Elements in Frequency Selective Arrays

3-D printing is a technology that enables the fabrication of complex objects directly from a digital model. Folding the elements of Frequency Selective arrays in three dimensions gives a significant reduction in the resonant frequency for a given cell dimension, and such structures are candidates for additive manufacture. The aim in this paper is to demonstrate by example the development of novel electromagnetic structures that could be fabricated in parallel and integral with the additive manufacture of buildings, for electromagnetic architecture control. The principle is illustrated with two new geometries based on dipole and loop elements. The cores of these structures were fabricated with a 3-D printer that uses a plaster-based material. Theoretical and experimental results confirm the operation of the surfaces within the UHF frequency band.