Demonstration of Electromagnetic Shielding Using Metal Wire Array Composite Structures

Abstract

Reflection and transmission of electromagnetic (EM) waves by a Metal Wire Array (MWA) composite structure were studied for a demonstration of electromagnetic shielding. Metal wire array composites have a layered structure consisting of a cross section paper, an array of thin copper wires and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) film. A simple experimental apparatus was constructed for the measurement of the reflection coefficient Γ and the transmission one T of the MWA composites with different intervals of metal wires. The electromagnetic shielding effect was evaluated by the calculation of Γ and T using the transmission line theory. The experimental results indicated a good agreement with the theoretical calculation; it can be considered that the microwave transmission and reflection experiments using MWA composite structures can be utilized as an experimental teaching material to learn radio wave shielding.