EAS487: Radar Remote Sensing Spring 2014

HOMEWORK 3: Antenna arrays

Reference: Lectures 13-16 Due: 2014 February 26
Problem 1. Fill in the details leading to the ex-
pression for the half-power beamwidth of an endre
array given in class. This should be a fairly short
derivation.
Problem 2. Consider a three-element array of
antennas spaced by a distance d on the x axis. Find
values of and d such that there is no radiation
in the x direction but maximum radiation in the
+ x direction. Sketch the radiation pattern in the
x y plane. You can consider the antenna elements
themselves to be isotropic radiators for this problem.
If there is more than one solution to the problem,
give the general rule, and sketch a few representative
solutions.
Problem 3. In class, we used the example of a
21 element array of dipole antennas spaced by 0.9
to estimate the performance of broadside antenna
arrays. Lets do the calculations exactly here using
numerical analysis.
a) Calculate the HPWB in the E and H planes.
Show plots for both planes (in dB so that the
sidelobes show).
b) Estimate the gain of the array on the basis
of what you found in (a).
c) Now, make an exact calculation of the gain.
This will require 2-D numerical integration over
the entire pattern to nd the total radiated
power. Compare the result with (b) and also
with the estimate from class.
Problem 4. Suppose we have a 12 by 15 rect-
angular array of half-wave dipole antennas in the
xy plane. The separation between dipole elements
is a quarter wavelength in both directions, and the
dipoles are oriented parallel to the x axis. The array
is situated a quarter wavelength above a perfectly
conducting ground, and all the dipoles are excited in
phase with a current I

.
a) Derive a complete expression for the normal-
ized radiation pattern versus and for this
array. Be sure to include the correct element
factor and the eects of the ground plane. We
have here essentially a 3-D array (12x15x2).
b) Find the HPBW in the xz (=0) and y z
(=/2) planes.
c) Plot the radiation patterns in these two
planes, and make sure they are consistent with
the HPBW you found in (b).
c) How would you phase the array to shift the
main beam to = 15

, =90

.
d) Plot the pattern for (c) in the y z plane
and recompute the HPBW. Compare the results
with those from (b) and (c). Are they consis-
tent?
CORNELL UNIVERSITY c DAVE HYSELL (02/11/14)
HW 31