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Radiation pattern and impedance of a quarter wavelength monopole antenna

above a finite ground plane

Conference Paper · January 2012

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Radiation pattern and impedance of a quarter wavelength monopole antenna above a
finite ground plane
Zlatko Živković, Damir Senić, Christof Bodendorf1, Jacek Skrzypczynski2, Antonio Šarolić

FESB – Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Ruđera Boškovića 32, 21000 Split, Croatia
E-mail: Zlatko.Zivkovic@fesb.hr, Damir.Senic@fesb.hr, Antonio.Sarolic@fesb.hr
1
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Oberschleißheim, Germany
cbodendorf@bfs.de
2
Wrocław University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
Jacek.Skrzypczynski@pwr.wroc.pl

Both the simulations and the theoretical analysis suffer

Abstract: Paper deals with the radiation pattern and impedance
calculation for a quarter wavelength monopole antenna placed from certain drawbacks. The analytical results [9] are valid
at the center of circular and square PEC ground planes. The only for sufficiently large ground planes. On the other hand,,
analysis was based both on analytical expressions, and on solving such large structures using simulations requires
simulations, using software packages based on different significant memory resources and calculation time, especially
numerical methods (MoM and FDTD). The previously known with FDTD. To evaluate the impact of ground plane
analytical expressions for a quarter wavelength monopole dimensions in more detail, the analytical results were
antenna above the circular ground plane were studied in more compared to MoM and FDTD simulation results, for several
detail, regarding given validity constraints. Antenna radiation circular and square ground planes of different sizes.
pattern and impedance were studied for various ground plane
Simulations were performed using FEKO [10] as MoM,
dimensions. The simulation results were validated by the
comparison with analytical results. Considering excellent and SEMCAD X [11] as FDTD based software. The analysis
agreement for the examined circular ground planes, the MoM was carried out at the frequency of 382.5 MHz, commonly
method was then used to investigate several square ground used frequency for TETRA systems [12], as TETRA antenna
planes, having equal areas as the examined circular discs. on a metallic vehicle roof was the initial motivation for this
Increasing the ground plane dimensions, the convergence of study.
calculated antenna parameters towards the values for infinite
PEC ground plane was examined. The obtained results showed
very slow convergence of the radiation pattern, and quite rapid 2. MONOPOLE ABOVE CIRCULAR DISC
convergence of the input impedance.
2.1 Radiation pattern
1. INTRODUCTION
The expression for radiated electric field of a monopole
antenna in the center of a circular ground plane, with radius a
An antenna above PEC infinite ground plane is a well-
(Fig. 1a), obtained using the uniform geometrical theory of
known canonical problem in antenna theory [1]. However,
diffraction (GTD), is given in [9] by equation:
for finite ground planes, the usage of simulation software
tools is often inevitable. Even though Method of Moment
(MoM) based software is more appropriate for such open E = ( E0 + Ed1 + Ed2 ) ⋅ eϑ . (1)
domain problems, the question is whether this problem could
be effectively solved using FDTD method (which requires
discretization of the complete region of calculation).
Although several theoretical approaches for analyzing the ϑ ϑ
monopole antenna above circular and rectangular ground
planes can be found in literature [2-8], the Geometrical
Theory of Diffraction (GTD) based solution, described in [9], φ φ
was used as a reference in this study.
a) b)
This research was supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and
Figure 1 - Monopole antenna above: a) circular disc,
Sports of the Republic of Croatia (Projects No. 023-0000000-3273 and
No. 036-0361630-1631). b) square plate
Component E0 is the geometrical optics field of a quarter antenna segment length was set to λ/40 and the ground plane
wavelength monopole antenna given by [9]: was discretized using triangles with edge length of λ/10. The
wire radius was set to 1 mm. The number of the voxels for
⎧ ⎛π ⎞ FDTD simulation depended on the size of the disc radius
⎪⎪ jZ I e − jkR cos ⎜ 2 cosϑ ⎟ (e.g. for a=0.5λ the region of calculation was divided in 0.5
E0 = ⎨ 0 0 ⎝ ⎠, 0 ≤ ϑ < 90° (2) MCells and for 5λ the region of calculation was divided in 4
⎪ 2π R sin ϑ
90°<ϑ ≤ 180°. MCells). The minimal voxel size, in immediate vicinity of
⎩⎪0,
the antenna feed point was set to 0.3 mm for all disc radii.
The simulations were carried out for disc radii from 0.5λ to
Components Ed1 and Ed2 represent the single and double 5λ. The larger disc radii were found to be very challenging
diffracted field, respectively, and are defined by [9]: regarding computer memory and calculation time, especially
for FDTD simulations.
jZ 0 I 0e − jkR e − jka ⎧⎪ ⎡ 2⎛π ϑ ⎞⎤ Radiation patterns calculated by analytical equations and
Ed1 = − ⎨ F 2ka cos ⎜ + ⎟ ⎥
2π R 2 2π ka sin ϑ ⎪⎩ ⎣⎢ ⎝ 4 2 ⎠⎦ by simulations are presented in Fig. 2. Each radiation pattern
(3)
⎛ π ϑ ⎞ j ka sin ϑ −π / 4] ⎛ π ϑ ⎞ -j ka sin ϑ −π / 4] ⎫ was normalized to its maximum directivity. The list of
⋅ sec ⎜ + ⎟ e [ ∓ sec ⎜ − ⎟ ⋅ e [ ⎬, maximum directivities for each examined case is presented in
⎝4 2⎠ ⎝4 2⎠ ⎭
Table 1. The strict elevation angle limits for usage of the
equations (3) and (4) cannot be specified generally, since
and,
they depend on disc radius. By detailed examination of
overlapping areas between curves, obtained using equations
jZ 0 I 0e − jkR e ( )
− j 3 ka − π / 4
⎪⎧ ⎡ 2⎛π ϑ ⎞⎤ (3), (4) and (6), the corresponding validity intervals were
Ed2 = − ⎨ F ⎢ 2ka cos ⎜ + ⎟ ⎥
2π R 2 π ka ⎩⎪ ⎣ ⎝ 4 2 ⎠⎦ determined, for the presented radiation patterns (Table 2). As
(4)
⎛ π ϑ ⎞ j ka sin ϑ −π / 4] ⎛ π ϑ ⎞ -j ka sin ϑ −π / 4] ⎫ can be observed, the interval for which the equations (3) and
⋅ sec ⎜ + ⎟ e [ ∓ sec ⎜ − ⎟ ⋅ e [ ⎬, (4) are valid expands as the disc radius increases. It is
⎝4 2⎠ ⎝4 2⎠ ⎭
important to notice that equations (1)-(6) hold even for
a=0.5λ if the proper angle interval is chosen (according to
where Table 2). For correct interval, the perfect fit with simulation
∞
results was obtained, especially for FEKO results, as can be
observed in Fig. 2.
∫e
− jt 2
F ( x ) = 2 j x e jx dt . (5)
x
Table 1 - Maximum directivity for different disc radii
In equations (2)-(4) λ is the wavelength in free space, Max. directivity [dB] a=0.5λ a=λ a=3λ a=5λ
k = 2π / λ is the wave number, h is monopole height (λ/4 in
this case), Z0=377 Ω is the wave impedance for free space FEKO 2.5 3.4 4.9 5.4
and I0 is the current amplitude at z=0. The equations (3)-(5) SEMCAD X 2.8 3.6 5 5.1
are claimed to be valid for a ≥ λ and give satisfactory results
when the point of observation is not near the z-axes [9]. Table 2 - Angle intervals for usage of equation (3) and (4)
Otherwise, for the elevation angles near 0° or 180°, the sum
of single and double diffracted fields should be calculated Disc Elevation angle interval for equations (3)
using: radius and (4)
a=0.5λ [ 35°,145°]
jZ I e− jkR e − j(ka −π / 2) π
Ed1 + Ed2 = ∓ 0 0 sec a=λ [ 20°,160°]
2π R 2 4
− j( 2 ka −π / 4 )
(6) a=3λ [ 7°,173°]
⎡ e ⎤
⋅ J1 (ka sin ϑ ) ⎢1 + ⎥, a=5λ [ 4°,176°]
⎣ 2 π ka ⎦
a=10λ [ 2°,178°]
where J1(x) represent the Bessel function of the first kind. In
the equations (3), (4) and (6) the upper (minus) sign should The presented radiation patterns show significant impact of
be used for 0 ≤ ϑ < 90° and the lower (plus) sign should be the finite ground plane size. The radiation pattern maximum
used for 90° < ϑ ≤ 180° . is elevated above the horizontal xy plane. Moreover, the
increasing number of side lobes, above and below the
The same geometry was simulated using MoM and FDTD horizontal plane, can be noticed, as disc radius increases.
based software packages. Regarding MoM simulations, the From the presented radiation patterns, one can
 a) b) c)

d) e)

Figure 2 - Vertical radiation patterns of the quarter wavelength monopole above the circular disc with radius:
a) a=0.5λ, b) a=λ, c) a=3λ, d) a=5λ and e) a=10λ

conclude that the number of the side lobes, below the The agreement of radiation patterns, obtained using theory
horizontal plane, changes according to the rule: and MoM based software is perfect for all disc sizes. The
agreement with FDTD simulation results is also very good
⎛ 2a ⎞ for smaller disc radii, with some discrepancies for larger disc
N = 2⋅⎜ − 1⎟ . (7)
⎝ λ ⎠ radii. However, these disparities of the results mostly affect
the amplitude of minor lobes.
Even for a very large disc radius, the differences between
radiation pattern above finite circular disc and infinite, 2.2 Impedance
perfectly conductive, ground plane are very prominent (Fig.
2e). The differences are especially pronounced in the The input impedance variation of a monopole above a
horizontal xy plane ( ϑ = 90° ) since the radiated power in this large circular ground plane compared to the impedance of a
direction is approximately 5 dB below maximum. It is monopole above an infinite, perfectly conductive ground
interesting to notice that the same value for ϑ = 90° is plane Zinf, is given in [9] and defined by equation:
obtained for all disc sizes (Fig. 2a-e). 2
h
As can be observed from the shown radiation patterns, the 30 − j2ka I ( z)
ΔZ = Z − Z inf = j e k∫ dz , (8)
convergence toward the radiation pattern of the monopole ka 0
I (0)
above infinite, perfectly conductive ground plane is quite
slow. This can be noticed, in more detail, from the where I(z) is the current distribution along a monopole and
dependence of the angle of maximum radiation intensity ϑmax I(0) is the input current at the base of a monopole. If the
on the disc radius (Fig. 3). As the disc radius increases, the sinusoidal current distribution is assumed:
direction of maximum radiation converges toward ϑ = 90° ,
albeit very slowly. I ( z ) = I (0) cos kz , (9)
85
80 then
Maximum directivity
elevation angle [°]

75
70 2
h
I ( z)
65
k∫ dz = 1 , (10)
60
0
I (0)
55
50
0 5 10 r/λ 15 20 and the input impedance variation, shown in Fig. 4, can be
Figure 3 - The variation of the maximum directivity obtained. The impedance variation was also studied using
elevation angle with respect to disc radius
MoM based software. However, the problem with result
comparison arises from the fact that the theoretical value of
Zinf is somewhat different than the one obtained using
simulation. For infinite ground plane, the theoretical value is
Zinf_Theory=36.5+j21.25 Ω, while the simulation gave
Zinf_FEKO=42.3+j22.6 Ω. This difference could arise from the
finite wire radius used in the simulations, and rather
significant differences in current distributions between the
proposed theoretical model (sinusoidal distribution) and real
distribution used in simulation model (Fig. 5). Therefore, the
theoretical curves in Fig. 4 were obtained with respect to
Zinf_theory, and simulation curves with respect to Zinf_FEKO. It is
interesting to notice that the variation of the real part of the
impedance is equal to zero for a = 0.5λ + 0.25λ ⋅ k , k ∈ 0 .
The current distributions for different disc sizes and
infinite ground plane, for theoretical and FEKO models, are
presented in Fig. 5. The current values were obtained for the
input voltage of 1 V. The current distributions converge to
the infinite plane scenario for both calculation methods, with
exception of the theoretically analyzed disc with radius
a=0.5λ. However, this could be expected since the theoretical
solution for impedance is constrained to electrically large
discs.
As opposed to radiation patterns, the input impedance
shows very rapid convergence to the infinite ground plane
value, as disc radius increases.
0,030

Similar behavior is observed for the imaginary part for 0,025

a = 0.625λ + 0.25λ ⋅ k , k ∈ 0 . Hence, zero variation of the
real part corresponds to maximum variation of the imaginary 0,020

part of impedance, and vice versa. Current [A] 0,015

Due to the time consuming computations, the FDTD
results were omitted from Fig. 4. However, the impedances 0,010
for some discrete disc radii, using both simulation software
and theory, are given in Table 3. 0,005
FEKO_infinite plane
FEKO_5λ
Theory_ infinite plane
Theory_5λ
FEKO_1λ Theory_1λ
FEKO_0.5λ Theory_0.5λ
Table 3 - Impedances of the monopole antenna above 0,000
z/λ
circular discs for different disc radii 0 0,05 0,1 0,15 0,2 0,25
Figure 5 - Current distributions for different disc radii and
SEMCAD X FEKO Theory calculation methods
a/λ ReZ ImZ ReZ ImZ ReZ ImZ
0.5 69.3 70.82 52.21 33.7 36.5 30.79
1 46.15 33.93 46.8 28.64 36.5 26.02 3. MONOPOLE ABOVE SQUARE PLATE
1.5 45.48 31.91 45.45 26.67 36.5 24.43
Since the excellent agreement between the theory and
2 45.33 30.65 45.26 25.54 36.5 23.63 MoM simulations was shown for the circular disc, the
2.5 45.39 30.24 44.6 25.09 36.5 23.15 radiation pattern of the quarter wavelength monopole antenna
3 45.82 29.91 44.57 24.49 36.5 22.84 above square plate (Fig. 1b) was calculated using MoM
simulation software only. The same segmentation was used
12 as for circular disc case. The simulations were performed for
10
FEKO
the square plate areas equal to the circular disc areas in order
8
6 Theory to compare radiation patterns and impedances with the
4 previously obtained ones. The examined circular disc radii
have yielded the areas of A=0.25πλ2, πλ2, 9πλ2 and 25πλ2,
ΔR

2
0 which led to the square plate sides of b=0.88λ, 1.77λ, 5.32λ
‐2 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3 3,5 4 4,5 5
a/λ
and 8.86λ.
‐4
a) ‐6 The radiation patterns for examined cases are shown in
12
Fig. 6. Vertical radiation patterns for φ=0° and φ=45° (see
9 FEKO
Theory
Fig. 1b) were calculated. Due to square plate asymmetry,
6
obtained radiation patterns were non-symmetrical as well.
3
The differences were mainly expressed in the number and
ΔX

0
amplitude of side lobes, however maintaining the same value
‐3 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3 3,5 4 4,5 5
a/λ and direction of maximum directivity. Even though presented
‐6
radiation patterns for circular disc and square plate, with
b) ‐9
Figure 4 - The variation of the input resistance and reactance equal areas, yielded some discrepancies, the good agreement
as a function of the ground plane radius of value and maximum directivity direction was observed.
The input impedance as a function of the ground plane
area, up to A=9πλ2, is shown in Fig. 7, both for circular disc
and for square plate. The obtained results for the square plate GTD hold even for disc radius smaller than 1λ. The
clearly show more rapid convergence to the infinite plane comparison with MoM and FDTD simulation results showed
value, compared to the circular disc. very good agreement, both for radiation pattern and input
impedance.
The impact of the finite ground plane size on the radiation
pattern was proved significant, with very slow convergence
toward the radiation pattern for the case of infinite PEC
ground plane. On the other hand, the input impedance of the
antenna above a finite ground plane shows very low deviation
from the infinite ground plane value, with rather rapid
convergence, especially for the square plate case.
This work presents a basis for different practical antenna
a) b) systems analyses, e.g. for a realistic model of a TETRA
antenna mounted on a metallic vehicle roof above the
realistic ground.

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pattern analysis showed that analytical equations based on

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