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Design & Engineering Services

Our engineering capabilities encompass radome design, analysis, and test, allowing us to control every step of the development process. We have an on-site FAA DER and write every test plan as well as the final compliance reports. This ensures a rapid and economic path to certification.

We leverage our engineering expertise to create the most advanced tools for radome design and analysis. Our suite of digital technologies enable optimized radome design so our customers can realize the best system performance.

RA3D is a powerful radome simulation software developed by Saint-Gobain specially for radome structures. It delivers the fastest and most accurate simulation of radome performance. Whereas competitive products may take hours or even days to generate results, RA3D can simulate the performance of an entire radome in only minutes. Furthermore, RA3D results have been validated by experimental data to give you confidence in the performance of your radome.

FlightMap applies radome design to your specific routes or mission. You define the flight paths, the satellites with which you will connect, and the performance required. FlightMap illustrates the coverage area you will achieve with your radome. With this detailed performance data, Saint-Gobain can help you identify solutions for better connectivity, such as choosing the right satellite or upgrading your radome design.

MAXIO™ is an innovative development process, created by Saint-Gobain, to deliver a fully optimized radome design. At the heart of this process are powerful analytical tools which evaluate multiple parameters and quickly assess millions of design options to arrive at an optimized solution. MAXIO quickly solves complex design challenges, so you can be assured you have the best radome technology possible and can get your system to market sooner.

Radio Frequency & Structural Analysis

Our analytical experts employ state-of-the-art tools, methodologies and proprietary software to optimize our designs. Taking into account the antenna application, frequency targets, and other program requirements and goals, our analysis teams deliver solutions that are optimized and tailored to your needs. We utilize a progressively complex suite of analytical tools that will ensure an interactive design approach throughout the program:

Preliminary RF analysis (Saint-Gobain proprietary software):
• 2D RF analysis to determine the optimal sandwich composition
• Ideal for panel testing

3D analysis – Full radome geometry transparency calculation (Saint-Gobain proprietary software):
• 3D model creation with gimbal antenna system to screen and optimize Radio Transparency
• Tailors the window transparency to the antenna specific power distribution
• Fast/Interactive - Ideal for design iterations

Physical Optics - Shooting and Bouncing Ray (PO-SBR):
• Computing the antenna loss under the radome geometries
• ANSYS High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) includes a new innovative solver to faster the computation time and provide more vision and interaction in the analysis
• Ideal for the highest levels of complexity

Structural analysis
Our Disciplines and Software:
• Birdstrike pre and post analysis
• MSC-APEX modelling software
• Non-Linear dynamic (ABAQUS)
• Linear static (NASTRAN)
• Buckling (NASTRAN)
• Vibration (NASTRAN)

Design Engineering

MAXIO (Saint-Gobain proprietary solution)
MAXIO provides the most optimized design based on RF specifications, strength, cost, weight and other variables upon customer request. MAXIO allows us to respond quickly to your changing requirements, simplifying the design process and making sure you can focus on gettng your product to market.

CATIA
CATIA is our main design software. Through regular training, our designers keep their skills up to date and incorporate best practices which have resulted in improved accuracy and reduced development times.

Advanced Surface Reconstruction
- Rapid reverse engineering with laser scan technology
- Digital 3D model creation from a physical part, such as the radome, mold, etc.

Sandwich Composition Zoning
It is often a challenge to accommodate conflicting goals of RF transparency and structural performance in one design. By zoning the sandwich composition, these goals are optimized to fit your requirements.

Testing & Certification

Our engineering team composes custom test plans specific for each customer requirement and radome application. Our on-site Designated Engineering Representative (DER) will witness and support every test. Finally we write and provide the final compliance substantiation report for both customer specifications and FAA requirements. We will execute the necessary testing to certify the radome installation:

Material
As a material expert, Saint-Gobain has decades of historical lamina test data –and each year we add to this knowledge. Our growing database is used to calculate statistically reduced strength allowables in accordance with the CMH-17 standard. It also is a vital input in our design development activity, enabling us to realize continual improvements in accuracy and speed.

Radio Frequency
• Standards for RTCA/DO-213A
• 2 test laboratories (Anechoic Chamber) at our sites in Washington and Ohio
• 1 contracted laboratory in France

Lightning strike
If required, testing for lightning certification is typically performed in accordance with SAE ARP 5416 or RTCA DO-160. Saint-Gobain works directly with National Technical Services (NTS), the world’s leading test laboratory for lightning and lightning effects for aircraft structures.

Birdstrike
The most challenging aeronautical platforms sometimes require birdstrike testing. Our engineering team can review your design and provide guidance on the modifications necessary to ensure a successful test. Furthermore, we design and build a pre-impact simulation to determine the critical impact location and help execute the test. Following the test, we provide a post-impact analysis with a detailed assessment of the aerodynamic loads on radome geometry to demonstrate safety of flight in accordance with FAA requirements.

Environmental
We can navigate your new program through all the environmental testing defined in applicable industry standards such as RTCA/DO-160G and MIL-810G and other requirements (Hail, Salt Fog, Humidity, Temperature, Elevation, Rain Erosion etc.).