Design of a scalable and deformable transparent metasurface with multi-polarization absorptive characteristics based on Miura folding for RCS reduction

A broadband, scalable, and deformable transparent absorbing metasurface (SDTAM) based on a Miura folding structure is proposed in this paper. The metasurface comprises three indium tin oxide (ITO) resistive film layers and two intermediate rhombic polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) dielectric layers. The resonant structure integrated into the top layer broadens the working bandwidth. Utilizing an absorption-scattering coordinated regulation mechanism, the electromagnetic scattering behaviors of SDTAM in planar, folded, and conformal states are systematically analyzed. Full-wave simulations and experiments validate the wideband radar cross-section (RCS) reduction performance of the SDTAM. Measurements demonstrate that SDTAM exhibits both optical transparency and excellent mechanical deformability, enabling large-scale expansion and contraction. In the planar state (α = 90°), the simulated bandwidth for monostatic RCS reduction of more than 10 dB is achieved from 13.8 to 40 GHz (relative bandwidth of 97.4%) under normal incidence of linearly polarized (LP) and circularly polarized (CP) waves. In the fully folded state (α = 60°), the simulated >10 dB monostatic RCS-reduction bandwidth is further extended to 4.1–40 GHz (relative bandwidth of 163%) under normal incidence of LP and CP waves. In addition, stable RCS reduction persists at incident angles up to 70° under normal incidence of LP and CP waves. This design provides an innovative solution for conformal stealth skinning of high-curvature deformable objects.