Electromagnetic Wave Analysis of Waveguide and Shielded

Microstripline
1
Srishti Singh 2Anupma Marwaha
M.Tech Research Scholar1, Associate Professor2
ECE Deptt. SLIET Longowal, Punjab-148106, India
Email: srishtisingh001@gmail.com

Abstract: Electromagnetic wave analysis of The described field structure in the waveguide
waveguide has been done in this paper with can become even more complicated if a metallic
the help of Finite Element Method (FEM) conductor is placed on the dielectric slice. In the
based COMSOL Multyphysics software. The structure electromagnetic field induces currents
design is further extended by placing into the conductor, and those currents cause a
conductor on a dielectric slab included in the mutual coupling of hybrid waves. These waves
waveguide to form a shielded microstrip can be analyzed by using numerical methods
transmission line. The simulated models are only. The structure obtained is known as
analyzed to determine the wave propagation shielded microstrip transmission line. In the
characteristics. The validation is done by present work, the analysis of waveguide and
evaluating the critical frequency, propagation shielded microstrip transmission line has been
constant and transversal field distribution of done using COMSOL Multiphysics package
modes at given phase constant β and angular based on finite element method (FEM).
frequency ω.
2. Design Methodology
Keywords: Waveguide, Shielded Microstripline,
Finite Element Method, Field Distribution, For the mathematical description of wave
Critical Frequency propagation in microwave transmission lines
Maxwell equations in the differential form can
1. Introduction be used.
Jind+Jen (1)
Waveguide is a structure which guides waves = -jωβ (2)
such as electromagnetic waves and sound waves. 𝛻.D= ρ (3)
Rectangular cross sections and circular ones are 𝛻.B= 0 (4)
the most common structure. Metallic walls of Where D= 𝜖E (5)
waveguides are assumed to be perfectly B= µH (6)
electrically conductive, and the waveguides are J= 𝜎E (7)
expected to be filled in by air. In these structures, Here E is electric field intensity
electromagnetic energy can propagate in the H is magnetic field intensity
form of transversally electric waves (a D is electric flux density
component of the magnetic field intensity, which B is magnetic flux density
is oriented to the direction of propagation, is not Jind is induced current density
zero) or transversally magnetic waves (electric Jen is the enforced current density
field intensity component in the direction of ω is angular frequency
propagation is non-zero). If a slab of dielectric ε is permittivity
material is placed into the waveguide, the µ is permeability
electromagnetic field continuously passes from Consider the first and second Maxwell equation
the dielectrics to the air and vice versa. This and assume zero excitation currents (the field is
continuous field pass between different media analyzed in a long distance from the sources).
can physically exist only if the electric field The field amplitude can vary in the directions x
component in the direction of propagation and and y only. Assuming non-attenuated wave
the magnetic one are both nonzero. This propagation in the direction z, the amplitude
phenomenon describes the characteristics of the stays constant and the phase of the wave
hybrid waves. These waves are very complicated changes.
and the exact analytic solution is unknown in this Ez(x,y,z) = E(x,y) exp(-jβz) (8)
case.

Excerpt from the Proceedings of the 2012 COMSOL Conference in Bangalore

Here β is the phase constant (the propagation The geometry of the waveguide model has been
constant) of a wave in a waveguide. created in COMSOL using the dimensions
Substituting eq.(1) into eq.(2), based on mentioned above as shown in fig.1
assumption in eq.(8) and performing some
mathematical manipulations, the wave equation
can be obtained as
𝜕2E/𝜕x2 + 𝜕2E/𝜕y2 + (k02-β2)E = 0 (9)
Where k02=ω2µ0𝜖0 denotes the free space wave
number in a vacuum.

The wave equation mathematically describes the

propagation of an electromagnetic wave in the
direction of z axis. The analysis of wave
equation can be performed in two alternative
methods.
First, the waveguide is analyzed at a given
angular frequency ω to compute the wave Fig.1 Geometry of waveguide
number. The field distribution in the transversal
cross section E and the propagation constant β 2.2 Simulation Results
for the angular frequency ω are the only
unknowns here. And secondly, the waveguide is After applying the boundary conditions meshing
analyzed for a given phase constant β. Assuming is performed by adaptive mesh refinement
the phase constant is zero and substituting this technique. After the refinement the structure is
value to eq.(9), the analysis can produce critical ready to solve.
wave numbers (consequently critical The generated model is solved to obtain the
frequencies) and the transversal field distribution computational result in the form of visualization
of modes, which can propagate in the waveguide. of the field power density distribution of the
Substituting β = 0 to eq.(9), the wave equation lowest mode in the transversal cross section of
reduces to the waveguide depicted in fig.2.
𝜕2E/𝜕x2 + 𝜕2E/𝜕y2 + k02 E = 0 (10) Higher modes can also be visualized in the post
Since eq. (10) is a partial differential equation, processing by appropriately selecting the
FEM can be used for the analysis of the field parameter.
distribution inside a waveguide.

2.1 Waveguide Modeling

In the modeling of hollow waveguide, the walls

of waveguide are perfectly conductive and inside
of the waveguide is vacuum. Electromagnetic
wave propagation in such kind of transmission Fig.2 Field power density distribution of the modes
lines belongs to the category of Perpendicular TE10, TE20, TE01
Waves in COMSOL. Next, the polarization of
computed waves either transversally electric
(TE) or transversally magnetic (TM) can be
selected for performing the eigenfrequency
analysis. For this, the recommended value of
propagation constant β is 0.001 rad/m.

The dimensions used for creating the geometry

of waveguide is
Width of the waveguide is 0.02286 m
Height of the waveguide is 0.01016 m Fig.3 Various field power density distribution of the
TM mode

Excerpt from the Proceedings of the 2012 COMSOL Conference in Bangalore

2.3 Analysis of Shielded Microstrip
Transmission Line

Hybrid modes propagate along the microstrip

transmission line. If the critical frequency of
modes propagating along the line is to be
computed, eigenfrequency analysis is selected.
Here interest is in parameters of a mode
propagating at a given frequency f, and therefore,
Mode Analysis is chosen.

The dimensions used for creating the geometry

of shielded microstrip transmission line are:
Width of the outer conductor=12.7mm
Height of the outer conductor= 12.7mm
Width of the inner conductor= 1.27mm Fig.5 The 2D plot of field power density distribution
Thickness of the inner conductor= 0.08mm of shielded microstrip transmission line at 10 GHz
Height of the dielectric layer= 1.27mm
Permittivity of dielectric layer=4.2

The geometry of the shielded microstrip

transmission line model shown in fig.4 has been
created using the dimensions mentioned above.

Fig.4 Geometry of shielded microstrip transmission

line
Fig.6 The 3D plot of field power density distribution
2.4 Simulation Result of shielded microstrip transmission line at 10 GHz

The frequency of the analysis is f = 10GHz. The obtained field distribution is typical for the
After applying the boundary conditions again dominant quasi-TEM wave, the longitudinal
meshing is performed by adaptive mesh component of the electric field intensity
refinement technique and model is then approaches, and transversal components seem to
executed. The 2D and 3D plots of field power radiate from the microstrip (red arrows) shown in
density distribution of shielded microstrip fig.7. The phase propagation constant of the
transmission line are shown in fig.5 and fig.6 dominant mode at the given frequency is 371 rad
respectively. m-1.

Excerpt from the Proceedings of the 2012 COMSOL Conference in Bangalore

Fig.7 The Arrow plot of field power density
distribution of shielded microstrip transmission line at
10 GHz. Fig.9 The 3D plot of field power density distribution
of shielded microstrip transmission line at 20 GHz
If the frequency is increased to f2=20 GHz,
different modes of different phase constants
propagate along the transmission line. Waves
therefore reach the end of the transmission line
differently delayed, and here, they interfere. This
phenomenon causes the signal distortion. The
phase propagation constant of the dominant
mode at the given frequency is 369.7530 radm-1.

The 2D and 3D plots of field power density

distribution of shielded microstrip transmission
line at 20GHz are shown in fig.8 and fig.9.

Fig.10 The Arrow plot of field power density

distribution of shielded microstrip transmission line at
20 GHz.

3. Conclusions

In this paper electromagnetic analysis of

waveguide and shielded microstrip transmission
line are presented. Simulations are performed
with the help of FEM based COMSOL
Multyphysics Software. Field power density
distribution of different TE and TM modes of
Fig.8 The 2D plot of field power density distribution waveguide are plotted and further field power
of shielded microstrip transmission line at 20 GHz. density distribution of shielded microstripline at
different two frequencies have been determined.

Excerpt from the Proceedings of the 2012 COMSOL Conference in Bangalore

4. References

1. Jones D. C. “Methods in Electromagnetic

Wave Propagation”. Oxford: Clarendon Press,
1979.
2. Gupta K. C., Garg R., Bahl I., Bhartia P.
“Microstrip Lines and Slotlines”. 2nd ed.
Norwood: Artech House, 1996.
3. Lee J. F. “Finite Element Analysis of Lossy
Dielectric Waveguides”. IEEE Transactions on
Microwave Theory and Techniques. vol.42, no.6,
pp. 1025–1031, 1994.
4. Jorden E. C., Balmain K. G. “Electromagnetic
Waves and Radiating Systems”. 2nd ed.
Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1968.
5. Prabhat Man Sainju, Rohit Ahuja, “Properties
of Microstriplines”, SMG-8306 Transmission
lines and Waveguides.
6. Bharti Bhat and Shiban Koul, “ Stripline Like
Transmission Lines for Microwave Integrated
Circuits”, Wiley Eastern Limited.
7. Musa S. M. and Sadiku M. N. O., “Modeling
and Simulation of Shielded Microstrip lines,”
The Technology Interface Journal, vol. 8, No.1,
Fall 2007.

Excerpt from the Proceedings of the 2012 COMSOL Conference in Bangalore