A Thermally Actuated Fully Inkjet-Printed Origami-Inspired Multilayer Frequency Selective Surface With Continuous-Range Tunability Using Polyester-Based Substrates

Abstract

A first-of-its-kind design methodology to realize thermally actuated origami-inspired multilayer Miura frequency selective surfaces (MLM-FSSs) using a polyester-based substrate is presented in this article that can change its frequency response according to the variation in its ambient temperature. In order to maintain the optimum interlayer distance between the two-layer Miura-FSS structures, a specialized low-loss origami-inspired spacer layer is introduced that preserves its desired overall frequency response during different folding configurations. It also features an unprecedented high mechanical strength, making it suitable for a wide range of terrestrial, outer-space, and biomedical applications. The frequency response and its relationship to kinematics of the proposed structure are also presented in detail, which gives a unique insight into the operation principles of such structures. The proposed structure features twice the bandwidth as compared to single-layer Miura-FSS, an excellent angle of incidence rejection, and is the first demonstration of a fully inkjet-printed MLM-FSS that is realized completely by a rigid heat-sensitive substrate as opposed to traditional cellulose-based Miura-FSSs that lack self-actuation mechanism as well as rigidity, which is a key attribute of most practical thick origami structures.