EXPT 6 - LABORATORY MANUAL: Simulation of Helical Antenna using

AN-SOF Antenna Simulator

Introduction:
AN-SOF Simulator is a software tool capable of simulating different antennas,
calculation of different parameters, and generating plots on the simulated antenna. The
parameters include input impedance of the feedline, voltage standing wave ratio of the antenna
with respect to the frequency, maximum power density and radiation at certain angles in both
azimuthal and vertical plane, directivity, power gain, etc. The software tool could also generate
mesh surfaces to plot distributions of current, magnitude (both real and imaginary), and phase.
AN-SOF uses Method of Moments (MoM) were the conductor elements of the antenna are
divided into number of segments shorter than the half-wavelength thus such segments are treated
as electric dipoles. This allows plotting of current distributions to show the gradual distributions
between sections/ segments in the antenna. AN-SOF have the capability of simulating multiple
voltage and current sources as well as drawing multiple of antenna elements to form antenna
array systems.
In this experiment, simulations will be related to Helical antennas. Parameters such as
gain, directivity, radiation pattern and VSWR will be investigated and how such parameters are
related to the geometrical characteristics of a helical antenna.
Background of Helical Antennas
Helical antenna is a form of basic and practical design of an antenna where a wire is
wounded in a fashion similar to a screw thread forming a helix or a helical structure. John D.
Krauss invented the helical antenna in 1946 and at that time, helical conductors were only used
as a guide for firing electron beams along a tube where signals traveling along the long wire
helix are amplified. Krauss had a query on the visitor during the lecture regarding traveling-wave
tubes asking about the potential of helical conductors as antenna and the visitor answered no.
Krauss never dismissed the idea of helical antennas and designed a 7-turn helical coil with the
circumference equal to the wavelength. The radiator induced a sharp beam of a radiation which
is polarized circularly at the open – end of the conductor. One observation of Krauss at that time
is that the higher the turns of the helical antenna, the sharper the beam it generates.
Physical and Geometric Properties of Helical Antennas
Helical antennas are also grounded antennas similar to monopoles where the feedline is
interfaced between the ground plane and the active element of the helical antenna. Helical
antennas could either operate in axial or normal which differ in terms of their directivity and
radiation pattern. Modes of helical antennas depend on the geometric properties; the following
parameters define the 3D structure of the helical antenna.
D = Diameter of the helix
S = Distance of spaces between turns
N = number of turns in a helical antenna
C = Circumference of the Helix, (C=π × D)
A = Total Axial Length, ( A=N × S)
S
α = pitch angle; (α =arc tan ⁡( ))
π× D

Figure 1. Geometric Structure of a Helical Antenna.

As seen in Figure 1, the helical antenna is connected through coaxial feed and is placed in
a ground plane. If the conductor is unwounded or unturned, the relationship between the
geometric parameters are as follows. The length L of an unwounded antenna and the spacing S
based on the triangle in Figure 1 would be defined as,
S= Lsin α =C tan α
Equation 1. Spacing between Turns in an Antenna.

2 2 2 2
L= √ S +C =√ S + ( π × D )
Equation 2. Length of an Unwounded Antenna.
Modes of Helical Antenna
As mentioned earlier, the two major modes of a helical antenna are normal mode and
axial mode. The two modes differ in geometric characteristics where normal mode helical
antennas (NMHA) have a relatively small structure in reference to the wavelength whereas in
axial mode, the diameter and the length of the antenna are closer to the value of the wavelength.
Normal Mode (NMHA)
Normal mode helical antennas are significantly smaller and mostly ineffective. The
current distribution is assumed to be uniform in terms of magnitude and phase. Maximum
radiation could be observed at the perpendicular axis of the helical antenna. The radiation of
NMHA could be characterized as elliptically polarized but under certain conditions a perfectly
circular polarization could be achieved. The radiation pattern of a normal mode helical antenna
could be comparable to a single turn or loop antenna or a short dipole antenna.

Figure 2. Radiation Pattern of a Normal Mode Helical Antenna.

As observed in Figure 2, the radiation pattern of the antenna is similar to a dipole antenna
where the front-to-back ratio is equal to 1, the front and back lobes are dominant at 90 degrees
which means that the radiation pattern is orthogonal to the axis of the helical antenna. The two
criteria in designing a normal mode helical antenna.
D≪λ
L≪λ
Equation 3. Diameter and Length of a Normal Mode Antenna
The diameter and the length of the helical antenna should be significantly smaller than
the wavelength of its operating frequency. NMHA have generally low efficiency in radiation and
have narrower bandwidth.
Axial Mode Helical Antenna
Axial mode helical antennas are non-resonant antennas that radiate along its axis unlike
NMHA, the radiation is more circularly polarized about the axis. The mode is able to operate at a
larger range of frequencies. The radiation characteristics of an axial helical antenna that is
constant is characterized by the following geometric properties.
3 4
λ≤C≤ λ
4 3
12 ° ≤ α ≤ 15°
Equation 4. Circumference and Pitch Angle of an Axial Helical Antenna
Axial helical antennas could also be referred to as End-Fire Helix antenna which has a
broadband increase of about 20%, the gain is usually at 15 dB and the half power beamwidth is
equal to 20°. When increasing the number of turns, the spacing and the diameter of the turn, the
power gain increases while the beamwidth becomes narrower. Axial helical antennas are used in
VHF and UHF and satellite antennas. The computation for the isotropic gain and the beamwidth
are as follows:

52 λ λ
ϕ=
πD √ NS
Equation 5. Beamwidth of an Axial Helical Antenna

15 NS(πD)2
G=
λ3
Equation 6. Isotropic Gain of an Axial Helical Antenna

OBJECTIVES:
The experiment for helical antenna simulations using AN-SOF has the following objectives:
1. To familiarize with the AN-SOF simulation software
2. To be able to construct and simulate a helical antenna using the AN-SOF
3. To define the parameters of a helical antenna by generating surface and polar plots and
relate the parameters from the physical/ geometric characteristics of an antenna.
4. To differentiate the two modes of a helical antenna through simulation.
5. To determine the bandwidth characteristic of a helical antenna.

PART 1. Normal Mode Helical Antenna

1. Open the AN-SOF software and on the file tab click open.
2. Select the Helix.emm file and open it.
3. Change the operating frequency to 100 MHz and the number of segments to 97.
4. Change the radius that is equal to 0.0477m and the pitch to 0.03m.
5. Click the run all button or simply press F10 to start the simulation.
6. Click the 3D far-field button and observe the radiation pattern of an axial mode helical
antenna. The radiation pattern should be similar to the radiation pattern as shown in the
figure below.
PART 2. Axial Mode Helical Antenna
1. Open the AN-SOF software and on the file tab click open.
2. Select the Helix.emm file and open it.
3. Change the operating frequency at 100 MHz and the number of segments to 97. The feed
point should be above the ground.
4. Click the run all button or simply press F10 to start the simulation.
5. Click the 3D far-field button and observe the radiation pattern of an axial mode helical
antenna. The radiation pattern should be similar to the radiation pattern as shown in the
figure below.
PART 3. Bandwidth of a Helical Antenna