The Effect of Shape of Artificial Ground on Antenna Radiation Pattern

Abstract

The article deals with an effect the change of shape of non-directional antenna‘s artificial ground plane has on the shape of its radiation diagram. In naval and aerial transportation, the artificial ground plane is the plane’s fuselage or ship’s hull. Experimental measurements of antenna’s amplitude and phase ratios are presented in the article. These point to the fact that even a small change of artificial ground plane’s shape has a big impact on the shape of its radiation diagram. The shape was gradually changed from circular to ellipsoidal. This ellipsoidal shape was used because the ground plan of a plane or a ship can be simplified to a slender ellipse. It is generally known that dimensions of the artificial ground plane influence the directional diagram of the antenna. However, this change occurs as a result of phase ratios changes of emitted signal on the surface of the artificial ground plane. The knowledge gained in this area can contribute to a better understanding of the topic. This could change the view on the shapes of radiation diagrams of antennas placed on vehicles of complex shapes. The motivation of the article was a real requirement for placing an antenna of a new communication system on a complex plane fuselage. The article compares measurements of amplitude and phase ratios of two antenna systems in 2D and 3D view.

Keywords

• radiation pattern
• artificial ground
• antenna
• phase
• magnitude