D-ITET Antennas and Propagation

Student-No.:.....................................................................

Name: ......................................................................

Address: ......................................................................

......................................................................

Antennas and Propagation

Spring 2005
March 17, 2005, 09:00 am – 12:00 noon
Dr. Ch. Fumeaux, Prof. Dr. R. Vahldieck

This exam consists of 6 problems. The total number of pages is 19, including
the cover page. You have 3 hours to solve the problems. The maximum
possible number of points is 67.

Please note:
• This is an open book exam.
• Attach this page as the front page of your solution booklet.
• All the calculations should be shown in the solution booklet to justify the solutions.
• Please, do not use pens with red ink.
• Do not forget to write your name on each solution sheet.
• Please, put your student card (LEGI) on the table.
• Possible further references of general interest will be written on the blackboard during
the examination.

Problem Points Initials

Total

— 1 / 19 —
 D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Problem 1 (10 Points)

Assume a receiver is located d = 10 km from a 50 W transmitter. The receiver and
transmitter are mounted on 2.5 m and 5 m high posts, respectively. The carrier frequency is
900 MHz. The receiver and transmitter antennas have gains G r = 1 and G t = 2 ,
respectively.

transmitter

receiver

5m

2.5 m

ground d  10 km

2 Points a) Find free space loss and received power if reflections from earth are neglected.

2 Points b) Find additional power loss ( Lref ) in dB due to reflections from the ground.

3 Points c) Assume a wall positioned in between the transmitter and receiver, 8 km away from the
transmitter. Calculate the height of the wall so that the power loss due to the knife-edge
diffraction is the same as the power loss due to reflection from Earth ( Lref ) in b).

3 Points d) What would be the maximum height of the wall so that the power loss due to the
diffraction is negligible? Can such a wall be built?

— 2 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Solution 1
a)
c
f = 900 MHz ⇒ λ = = 0.333 m
f

Free space loss:

( ) ( )
2 2
λ 0.333
LLOS = GrGt = 1⋅ 2 ⋅
4πd 4π ⋅ 10 ⋅ 102
LLOS = 1.4072 ⋅ 10−11 = −108.51dB

Received Power
PLOSr = Pt ⋅ LLOS
PLOSr = 7.036 ⋅ 10−10 W = −91.5 dBW = −61.5 dBm

or
Pt = 50 W = 16.989 dBW
PLOSr = Pt + LLOS = 16.989 − 108.51 = −91.5 dBW

b)
The power loss due to the reflection from the ground is

(
Lref = 1 + Γ ⋅ exp jk t r) (
2h h 2
d
2h h 2
≈ k⋅ t r
d )
=( ⋅
d )
2
2π 2h h t r
Lref = 0.00222
λ
Lref = −26.535 dB

The plane earth loss (PEL) is

LPEL = LLOS + Lref = −135.045 dB

— 3 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

c)
Power loss due to the diffraction is the same as the power loss due to the reflection, thus
Ldiff = Lref = −26.535 dB

From the graph knife-edge diffraction vs. parameter υ, we see that υ > 2.4. Thus:
Ldiff = 20 log ( 0.225
υ ) ⇒ υ = 4.78

2 ( d1 + d2 ) υ
υ=h ⇒h =
λd1d2 2 d1 + d2 )
(
λd1d2
4.78
h = = 78.1m
2 8000 + 2000 )
(
0.333 ⋅ 8000 ⋅ 2000
htot = h + hr = 80.5 m

d)
The diffraction loss is negligible if most of the 1st Fresnel zone is clear (uncovered by the
wall).
More specifically, the Fresnel zone clearance condition has to be satisfied, i.e.
υ = −0.8 ⇒ h = −13.063
htot = hr + h = −10.563 m

Therefore, such wall cannot be built.

— 4 / 19 —
 D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Problem 2 (13 Points)

An infinitesimal dipole of length l is placed at a distance s from a ground plane and at an
angle of 45 degrees from the vertical axis, as shown in the figure below. The dipole lies in
the yz -plane.

z y

45° 45°

normal x

3 Points a) Determine the location and direction of the image source, which can be used to account
for reflections of the ground plane. Your answer should be in a form of a very clear
sketch.

6 Points b) With the coordinate system given in the figure, find the expression for the total far field
electric field in the 2nd quadrant of the yz -plane (the shaded region).

4 Points c) Find the smallest non-zero distance s for which the total field obtained in b) is zero
along the normal.

— 5 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Solution 2
a)
The image dipole is shown in the figure below. Tangential field at the ground plane is zero.
Eq2

Eq1
45¡ 45°

normal

b)
The original dipole and the image form an array as shown in the sketch below
q
z y
r
r2

r1 q
45° 45° 45°
45°-q
normal x

y
z’
r1 = r − s ⋅ cos ( 45 − θ ) ⎫⎪
⎪ phase
⎬
r2 = r + s ⋅ cos ( 45 − θ ) ⎪⎪ (*)
⎭
r1 = r2 = r magnitude

— 6 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

The field produced by the original dipole is

kI le− jkr1
E1 = E1θ = j η 0 sin θ ⋅ aθ
4πr1
The image dipole is directed along the z’ direction and produces field in ψ direction, defined
on the graph above. Thus the image dipole field is given as
kI le − jkr2
E2 = E2 ψ = j η 0 sin ψ ⋅ a ψ
4πr2
where
2 2
sin ψ = 1 − cos2 ψ = 1 − az ' ⋅ ar = 1 − ay ⋅ ar = 1 − ( sin θ sin φ )2
Thus
kI 0le −jkr2
E2 = E2ψ = j η 1 − ( sin θ sin φ )2 ⋅ a ψ
4πr2

φ = 270°, a ψ = −aθ
In the second quadrant of the yz-plane we have
Thus:
kI 0le − jkr2
E2 = E2ψ = −j η 1 − ( sin θ )2 ⋅ a θ
4πr2
kI 0le − jkr2
E2 = E2ψ = −j η cos θ ⋅ a θ
4πr2
The total field is equal to the sum of the two fields, i.e.
⎡ kI le−jkr1 kI le−jkr2 ⎤
E tot = E1 + E2 = ⎢ j η 0 sin θ − j η 0 cos θ ⎥ ⋅ aθ
⎢⎣ 4πr1 4πr2 ⎥⎦
Expresing r1 and r2 in terms of r (*), we obtain the total field in the 2nd quadrant as
kI le − jkr ⎡ + jks cos( 45 −θ )
E tot = j η 0 e sin θ − e− jks cos( 45 −θ ) cos θ ⎤⎦ ⋅ aθ
4πr ⎣

c)
Along the normal, we have θ = 45
Thus, the field can be expressed as
kI le− jkr
E tot = j η 0 sin 45 ⎡⎣ e + jks − e − jks ⎤⎦ ⋅ aθ
4πr
kI le − jkr 2
E tot = −j 2η 0 sin ( ks ) ⋅ aθ
4πr 2

So E tot = 0 ⇐ ks = n π, n = 0,1,2,...
λ
n = 1 ⇒ smallest non-zero length s is s =
2

— 7 / 19 —
 D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Problem 3 (12 Points)

Given are three radiation patterns that are taken from rectangular horn antennas. The horn
antennas are fed by a rectangular waveguide WR90 (dimension a = 22.86 mm and
b = 10.16 mm) operated in the dominant TE10 mode at f = 11 GHz.

E-Plane
H-Plane

(1) (2) (3)

2 Points a) Relate each of the three radiation pattern to a type of rectangular horn antenna. Give the
physical explanation of your choice!

2 Points b) Which effect is responsible for large back radiation of the above patterns? What would
you recommend in order to decrease the back-side radiation?

2 Points c) Estimate the dimensions a1 and b1 of a pyramidal horn aperture antenna required to
exhibit a gain of G 0 = 17 dBi at f = 11 GHz if a typical aperture efficiency of 50% is
assumed. The side length ratio is a1 / b1 = 2 .

2 Points d) Determine the maximum power that can be received by the antenna designed in c) if it
is illuminated by a plane wave of the frequency f = 11 GHz with an amplitude of
E 0 = 30 mV/m.

2 Points e) Determine the maximum power that can be received by the feeding waveguide (without
the horn antenna) if it is illuminated by the same plane wave as in d).

2 Points f) Comparing the aperture efficiencies of a horn antenna and a waveguide, why are
waveguides, having the same dimension as the aperture of a horn antenna, not used as
radiating elements? Find an explanation.

— 8 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Solution 3
a)
Pattern (1) H-plane rectangular horn antenna
Pattern (2) pyramidal horn antenna
Pattern (3) E-plane rectangular horn antenna
The larger the aperture in one direction, the narrower the beam becomes in that direction
(until a certain limit). The pattern of the pyramidal horn, that has a flaring in both directions,
is a combination of both the E-plane, and the H-plane pattern.

b)
The back-radiation is caused by diffraction at the horn aperture edges. Solutions to decrease
the back-side radiation are:
1. Corrugated horns, where a similar boundary condition is enforced for both, the E
and the H -field, i.e. both fields exhibit a tapered field distribution. Additionally to a
reduced back-side radiation, the pattern becomes rotationally symmetric.
2. Aperture matched horns, where a curved surface section is added to the outside of
the aperture edges. This decreases diffraction, that occurs at the sharp edges of a the
aperture of a regular horn and additionally provides a smooth transition from the
horn to the free-space impedance.

c)
The connection between antenna gain and effective aperture size at a certain frequency is
given by
4π
G0 = A
λ e

If an aperture efficiency of ηap = 0.5 is assumed, the physical aperture size can be
determined
4π 4π 1
G0 = 2 ηapA = 2 a1 ⋅ b1
λ λ 2
2
λ
a1 ⋅ b1 = 2 G0
4π

— 9 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

The gain is given as G 0 = 17 dBi, which is corresponding to G 0 = 50 and the wavelength

at f = 11 GHz is λ = 27.25 mm.

Therefore the physical aperture is

2
( 27.25 ⋅ 10−3 )
a1 ⋅ b1 = 100 = 0.006 m2
4π
with the given ratio of a1 / b1 = 2 this gives a1 = 2 ⋅ 0.006 m = 109.55 mm , and thus
b1 = 54.775 mm .

At the given frequency this corresponds to a1 ⋅ b1 ≈ 8λ 2 .

— 10 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

d)
The maximal received power is given by P = Ae ⋅ W , where the effective aperture is
1
known Ae = ⋅ 0.006 m2 and the power density of the incident wave is
2
1 E0 2
1 900 ⋅ 10−6 W W
W = ≈ 2 = 1.2 ⋅ 10−6 2
2 Zw 2 120π m m
1 1 900 ⋅ 10−6
The maximal received power thus is Phorn = 0.006 ⋅ W = 3.6 nW .
2 2 120π

e)
Because of the TE10 field distribution in the feeding waveguide, the aperture efficiency is
8
determined as ηap = 2 = 0.81 and therefore
π
1 E0 2 1 900 ⋅ 10−6
Pwaveguide = ηap ⋅ a ⋅ b = 0.81 ⋅ 22.86 ⋅ 10−3 ⋅ 10.16 ⋅ 10−3 W
2 Zw 2 120π
= 0.225 nW

f)
The larger dimensions (in terms of wavelength) of such a waveguide enable the support of
higher order modes in the waveguide. Higher order modes exhibit different group velocities
which results in a declination of signal transmission and antenna excitation.

— 11 / 19 —
 D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Problem 4 (11 Points)

You have the choice of two dielectric substrates, one with εr1 = 1.5 , the other with
εr2 = 4 . Both have a thickness of h = 1.5 mm. The microstrip antenna should be designed
to radiate at the frequency fr = 2 GHz.

W W
L L

h h
w0 w1
w0
er er

(a) (b)

2 Points a) Which dielectric substrate would you prefer as a dielectric layer for a microstrip antenna
shown in figure (a) and why?

4 Points b) Determine the length L and the width W of a linearly polarized patch on the above
chosen substrate with the help of the transmission line model.

2 Points c) Redesign the patch neglecting fringing fields. Find the error of frequency shift that is
arising from this neglect.

3 Points d) With the matching network (microstrip line 1: width w1 = 1.62 mm and length λg / 4
at fr = 2 GHz) shown in figure (b), the microstrip patch is matched to the microstrip
line 0 with the width w0 . Give the characteristic impedance of the line 0. Assume there
is no mutual coupling between the slots of the microstrip patch and that W λ0 is
valid.

— 12 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Solution 4
a)
The material with the lower permittivity εr = 1.5 is to choose because of several reasons:
1
Prad Qrad Q
1. Radiation efficiency η = = = tot where the radiation Q-factor is
Ptot 1 Qrad
Qtot
proportional to Qrad ∼ εr . The smaller Q rad (and thus εr ), the lower the losses and
the higher the radiation efficiency.
f 1 1
2. Bandwidth BW = , and BW ∼ respectively. The lower εr , the
f0 Qtot εr
higher the bandwidth of the antenna.
3. Directivity is higher for lower εr , see graph on slide 8.44 (of lecture notes 2004).

b)
c0 2
The width W can be determined by W = = 67.036 mm.
2 fr εr + 1
The effective permittivity is
ε + 1 εr − 1 ⎡ h ⎤ −1 2
εeff = r + ⎢ 1 + 12 ⎥ = 1.47
2 2 ⎣ W⎦
The length extension caused by fringing effects can be calculated

L = h ⋅ 0.412
( εeff + 0.3 )(W
h
+ 0.264 )
= 0.891 mm
( εeff − 0.258 )
W
h( + 0.8 )
The total length of the patch is therefore
c0
L= − 2 L = 59.992 mm
2 fr εeff

c)
Without effective permittivity and fringing fields the length of a patch is determined by
c0 λ
L* = = = 61.195 mm
2 fr εr 2
In reality, the resonant frequency for this case would be
c0
fr * = = 1.962 GHz.
2 ( L * +2 L ) εeff

— 13 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

d)
The input impedance of the microstrip patch can be found by (no mutual coupling)
1 1 ⎛W ⎞2
Z in = = 225 Ω with G1 = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = 2.222 mS.
G1 90 ⎝ λ0 ⎠
A quarter-wavelength transformer with the width w1 is used to match the patch with the
impedance Z in to the microstrip line with the impedance Z 0 . The impedance of this
transformer has to be Z1 = Z 0 ⋅ Z in which can be found from slide 8.26

Y2 + jYC tan(βL) Y + jY1 tan(βL1 )

Y2 = YC , here that is Y0 = Y1 in and β L1 = π / 2
YC + jY2 tan(βL) Y1 + jYin tan(βL1 )
and thus tan(β L1 ) → ∞ .

Hence
Y1 Y2
Y0 = Y1 = 1 or Z12 = Z 0 ⋅ Z in .
Yin Yin
120π
Z1 ≈ = 106.1 Ω
⎡W
εeff1 ⎢ + 1.393 + 0.667 ln
⎣h
(W
h
+ 1.444 ⎥
⎤
⎦
)
−1 2
ε + 1 εr − 1 ⎡ h ⎤
with εeff1 = r + ⎢ 1 + 12 ⎥ = 1.32 .
2 2 ⎣⎢ w1 ⎦⎥
Z2
Thus, the patch is matched to a Z 0 = 1 = 50 Ω line.
Z in

— 14 / 19 —
 D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Problem 5 (11 Points)

Design an ordinary end-fire array with its maximum radiation directed towards 180 degrees
and half-power beamwidth (HPBW) of 30 degrees. The spacing between the elements
is λ / 4 , and the array’s length is much larger than the spacing.

3 Points a) Determine number of elements and progressive phase shift between the elements (in
degrees).

2 Points b) Estimate the array’s directivity.

2 Points c) Redesign the array in order to increase its directivity for the end-fire radiation. The
number of elements, spacing between them and amplitude uniformity should stay the
same.

2 Points d) How much can you increase directivity maximally?

2 Points e) Could you use the same method to increase directivity of the original array (designed in
a)), if the spacing between the elements was λ / 2 ? Why?

— 15 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Solution 5
a)
Ordinary end-fire array has maximum and 180 degrees if
2π λ π
β = kd = ⋅ = = 90
λ 4 2
HPBW of an ordinary end fire array is given by
HPBW = Θh = 2 ⋅ cos−1 1 − ( 1.391λ
πdN )
Thus, the total number of elements is
1.391λ
N = = 52 elements.
( )
πd ⎡⎢ 1 − cos Θh 2 ⎥⎤
⎣ ⎦

b)
Directivity of an ordinary end-fire array is given as
D0 = 4N ( )
d
λ
= 52 = 17.16 dB

c)
To improve the directivity, given everything else staying the same, the progressive phase
shift should be calculated from
π π π
β = kd + = + = 1.63 rad = 93.46
N 2 52
The obtained array is Hansen-Woodyard end-fire array with maximum beam at 180 degrees.

d)
Directivity of a Hansen-Woodyard array shows improvement of 1.789 times or 2.526 dB
over the ordinary end-fire array.

e)
No, because for the Hansen-Woodyard array to have the maximum in the desired direction
the spacing between the elements have to be around λ / 4 . For the spacing of λ / 2 , the side
lobes would have larger maxima than the main lobe.

— 16 / 19 —
 D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Problem 6 (10 Points)

A generator with impedance Z G = ( 50 + j 20 ) Ω and supply power PS = 40 dBm is
feeding a transmitting antenna. The transmitting antenna is a lossless, half-wavelength
dipole and is oriented according to the figure. An airplane (RCS of σ = 20 m2 , height
h = 3 km, the dimensions of the airplane are much smaller than h ) is illuminated by the
antenna under an angle of θt = 30 and scatters the electromagnetic wave. Due to the
scattering, the polarization of the incident wave is turned by φs = 30 in the xy -plane. In
an angle of θr = 45 , a pyramidal horn antenna (gain G 0 = 23 dBi) is employed as a
receiver. The orientation and the polarization of the horn antenna are depicted in the figure.

airplane

dt h dr

qt = 30° qr = 45°

z
y
x ®
transmitter E receiver

2 Points a) For which frequency is the power at the receiver higher, for f1 = 8 GHz or
f2 = 16 GHz if the transmitter in both cases is a half-wavelength dipole? What is the
difference of the received power between both cases in dB?

4 Points b) Calculate the power Pc that is captured by the airplane for a carrier frequency of
f = 8 GHz.

4 Points c) Determine the power Pr received by the horn antenna.

— 17 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

Solution 6
a)
The received power in a free-space propagation is proportional to Pr ∼ λ 2 . Thus, the higher
the frequency, the higher are the free-space losses. Doubling the frequency, the received
power decreases by a factor of 4 ( 6 dB respectively).

b)
The input impedance of a half-wavelength dipole is known as Z in = ( 73 + j 42.5 ) Ω . Thus
the generator is not matched to the dipole, resulting in a return loss of
Z − ZG
Γ = in = 0.233 .
Z in + Z G
The distance between the transmitter and the airplane is
3
d t = h / cos 30 = 3000 / m = 3464 m .
2
The directivity (lossless half-wavelength dipole) is given by
I0 2 3
U (θ) η 2 sin θ sin 3 θ
D ( θ ) = 4π ≈ 4π 8 π = 4 .
Prad I0 2 2.435
η 2.435
8π
sin 3 θt
In direction of the airplane θt = 30 this gives D ( θt ) = 4 = 0.205 .
2.435
The power of the generator is
1 1
PS = Re {U G ⋅ I 0∗ } = I 0 2 Re { Z G + Rrad + X A }
2 2
1
= I 0 2 ( RG + Rrad )
2

2 PS
I0 =2
RG + Rrad

1 Rrad
Pt = Prad = I 0 2 Rrad = PS = 5.93 W.
2 RG + Rrad

For the captured power this means

P
Pc = σWt = σD ( θt ) t 2 = 161.6 nW.
4πd t

— 18 / 19 —
D-ITET Antennas and Propagation March 17, 2005

c)
For the received power the polarization has to be taken into account.
Lecture notes, slide 2.26 (SS 2004): The PLF can be described using the angle between two
2 2
unit vectors PLF = ρw ⋅ ρa cos 30 = 0.75 .

OR:
y’

r®w
30°

x’
r®a

Using the coordinate system shown in the figure above, the polarization vector of the
3 1
scattered wave is ρw = ax ' + ay ' and of the receiving antenna ρa = a x ' . Thus the
2 2
polarization loss factor is PLF = ρw ⋅ ρa 2 = 0.75 . The gain of the antenna is
G0 = 23 dBi 200 .

The distance between the airplane and the receiver

dr = h / cos 45 = 3000 ⋅ 2 m = 4243 m

The received power therefore is determined by

λ2 P
Pr = Ae ⋅ Wc = G0 PLF ⋅ c 2 = 11.95 ⋅ 10−18 W.
4π 4πdr

— 19 / 19 —