Are antennas altered in the presence of carbon fiber masts?

So why not just use the carbon fiber mast as the antenna itself. Feed it with a toroid around it's base. It should be quite effective. I know of people inductively coupling RF to trees and using them as antennas. Why not a carbon fiber pole.
https://www.w7aia.org/techinfo_files/docs/RCC_Oct_2006_WB7ESV_The_Tree_Antenna.pdf
https://ve3fmq.blog/2020/10/19/can-you-turn-a-tree-into-an-antenna/

 

Hmm, good thinking. A bit lossy perhaps, but should function in some form. The 60 second design in my head includes a metallic sleeve at the bottom (capacitive coupling) to a stake in the ground (or a tossed wire?) and the toroid feed just above. The epitome of simple. Well worth a go.

 

But an aircracft has a much larger diameter structure between entry and exit points than a carbon fiber mast/tower. So the current density is much higher dan in an aircraft skin, I think. Seems pretty challenging to me.

 

The bisulcate hoof would be far more appropriate for the playing the bass than the guitar.

 

Carbon fiber mast been in sailboats for years. Mixed bag of results whether copper mesh wrapped or with an internal conductor as a ground. Some have taken direct hits with no damage but insurance asks for non destructive testing after (very expensive)
Some stories exist of the mast exploding/shattering at the time of the strike or later when sailing after the strike. I think the biggest issue is if you take a strike you need to replace it and its big bucks.

Mast are pretty inexpensive now so some experimentation over time would be worthwhile. I planning on dithering with some down the road and copper mesh is in my plan using it as a radiator or just copper tape to be cheap. Still aluminum is cheap by comparison and I think will win out in the end.

 

Sounds like a mast only to used at night.

 

I might add that, just because there is a measurable effect, it doesn't necessarily have to be detrimental. One can always tune the antenna to accommodate the carbon members. Carbon members have so many great advantages.

 

Here's a pretty objective analysis:
https://www.christinedemerchant.com/carboncharacteristics.html

 

What years? I flew as a TO out of Phu Bai Viet Nam in 1968 as part of a special voice ARDF program.

 

And don't forget the dielectric constant!

 

Was it constantly holding position on the field because "Sparky the FlameLiner" is doing an emergency return due to a battery fire? That was my experience with them. Hope yours was better.

 

As one can tune an antenna system to accommodate nearby conductors... sure. The Yagi-Uda is one example.

Very interesting paper, but discusses short carbon fiber composite. CFC with structural capabilities has long linear carbon threads overlapping in various directions creating the conductive properties at issue.

 

I am not that old LOL. 3rd MI AEB in Korea 1985-1990. The RC-12G (Crazy Horse) in Honduras. Then I started jumping out planes

Thank you for your service and flying that awesome aircraft!

 

Good experiment

 

Only the feedline is radiating. Remove the common mode current on the feedline and you see no radiation.