Millimeter-Wave Antenna Array Performance Sensitivity to Structural Distortion Using Coupled Structural-Electromagnetic-Statistical Technique

In wireless communication systems, active array antennas are the major components whose efficiency and effectiveness determines the capacity of communication systems. However, deformation or distortion in the array structure which is inevitable in the fabrication and operation process of the antennas causes random positioning of the elements in the array. Accounting for the impacts of structural deformation is key towards effective array structural design and optimization. Based on the concept of electromechanical coupling, a new and robust coupled structural-electromagnetic-statistical model which accounts for the random element positioning is presented to adequately evaluate array pattern sensitivity to structural deformation. The model is compared with the generally acceptable Ansoft HFSS software's result, and there is a good agreement between the two results. Also, a 10 x 10 microstrip patch antenna array is designed to illustrate the application of the model in accessing array performance with random position error and saddle shape distortion. The results demonstrate the sidelobe level and gain variation with different random errors and different distortion degrees respectively. These valuable results obtained provide a theoretical guidance for engineers in the determination of the optimal performance-driven structure tolerance. It finds good applications in radar systems, communication systems, and aerospace.