Mechanical design and fabrication of stretchable conductors with applications to antennas

This thesis focuses on the mechanical investigation, design and fabrication of stretchable conductors with applications to antennas. Specifically, a stretchable patch antenna (SPA) whose frequency is tuned by a planar dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) is proposed and analysed. This mechanically reconfigurable antenna system has a configuration resembling a pre-stretched silicone belt embedded with conductive liquid metal, which forms the patch antenna, and it has conductive electrodes, which form the DEA. Actuation of the DEA varies the side length of the patch antenna, and, as a result, its resonance frequency. Design and fabrication steps of this system are presented. Measurement results for deformation, resonance frequency variation and efficiency of the patch antenna are also presented.