Directivity Results Too Low

Hi bouvy,

 

The attached model gives a maximum Directivty of 2.49 dBi. Please note that for the Reflection Coefficient Approximation a minimum distance of lambda/10 should be between ground and segments/elements. That's why warnings are given:

 

WARNING   667: A segment is close to the ground

WARNING   668: A triangle is close to the ground

 

I compared with Exact Sommerfel Integrals where the maximum Directivity is slightly higher (3.19 dBi). I assume that the lower the frequency, the worse the results, because the assumption of segments/elements being > lambda/10 away from the ground not fulfilled.

 

Due to the small distance geometry and ground (1 cm) the Reflection Coefficient Approximation should only be used for frequencies > 30 GHz. I would recommend using Exact Sommerfeld Integrals instead.

 

Please also note, that for dielectric halfspaces the loss in the dielectric is unknown and therefore only Gain will be computed (Directivity = Gain).

Hi Torben, 

 

Thank you for the feedback. 

 

When you refer to the attached model, is that in reference to the model I attached? In that case, I am not sure how you are finding a maximum directivity of 2.49 dBi. When I plot the directivity on a polar plot, I obtain the following:

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

 

which shows a maximum directivity of 0.253 dBi at 0.11 degrees. Am I misunderstanding something?

 

Thanks again.

Hi bouvy,

 

Sorry, it seems I forgot to attach the models. It's a reduced test model, antenna only. I asume the more faces break the > lambda/10 rule for the RCA ground, the less acurate the results get. Comparing to Sommerfeld ground, the test model is quite close.

Model is attached.

Unable to find an attachment - read this blog

Thanks Torben.

 

Unfortunately, I am unable to open the attached file, as I get the following Error 18008: 'The file was written by a newer CADFEKO and is not compatible with this CADFEKO'. I should have mentioned earlier that I am running FEKO version 7.0.1.

 

 

I appreciate your remarks regarding the lambda/10 rule for the RCA. I was not aware of this requirement. Having learned that, I ran my original simulation using the exact Sommerfeld integral setting. In this case, I am observing the same problem as with the RCA: directivity values are very low. 

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

 

Do you have any suggestions for the case which includes the full model? 

 

 

Hi bouvy,

 

Coming back to your original assumption that the Directivity should be ~3 dB larger than for an isotropic radiator. Could you please clarify why you expect this? And please remember: Directivity will not be calculated when using infinite dielectric ground. Only Gain will be calculated.

 

Apart from the results, FEKO 7 is quite outdated. If possible you should install the current version of FEKO (2018.1).

Torben,

 

I previously misunderstood your point about gain and directivity. When you said that directivity = gain, I took that the other way to mean that gain = directivity. I see now what you mean. I re-ran my simulation with a PEC ground plane with the following results:

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

 

These are much more consistent with what I would expect.

 

I do think it is a little misleading the FEKO refers to the 'directivity' when a lossy material is used although that nomenclature is apparently inaccurate, if only the gain is being calculated.

 

Regardless, thank you for your feedback. Very helpful!

Hi bouvy,

 

I thhink that the Directivity in that case should not be available in POSTFEKO at all, but on the other hand

WARNING  3976: Directivity cannot be computed for far field calculations involving real ground with losses, gain will be computed instead

makes it quite clear.