Mekelle University

Ethiopian Institute of Technology Mekelle

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Project Title:
Performance Analysis of Phase array antenna for radar application
Submitted to Electronics and Communication Engineering chair
Submitted by:
Name of Group Member Number ID
Table of Contents
Abstract .....................................................................................................................
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1. Introduction ............................................................................................................
1

2. Literature Review ...................................................................................................

2

3. Statement of the problem .......................................................................................

3

4. Objectives of the study ...........................................................................................

3

4.1 General objective of the study .......................................................................... 3

4.2 Specific objectives ............................................................................................ 3

5. Methodology ..........................................................................................................
4

6. Time table of the semester project .........................................................................

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7.Expected result…………………………………………......................................5

8.Referance………………………………………………………………………..6
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Abstract
A phased array antenna is typically a computer-controlled array of antennas. Normally, when a signal is
broadcast from multiple antennas there is a risk of an interference that can cause a reduction in signal
strength. For radars, this can lead to a misrepresentation of the radar target’s size, as well as false
positives or negatives. However, an interference pattern can be used to improve radar’s accuracy. By
carefully controlling several beams of radio waves, a constructive interference pattern can be created
which boosts the signal strength. By adjusting the phase relationship between the antennas, the signal
can be electronically ‘steered’ to point in different directions without moving the antennas. This project
will focuses on linear phased array. The existences of grating lobes and the mechanisms that can be
implemented to reduce these grating lobes are also main points of interest in the paper. The impact of
variation of phase angle, number of elements and inter-element spacing will be discussed with supportive
simulated results.
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1. Introduction
Communication is a method of transmitting information from one place to another place. Based
on transmission media, there are two types of communication system. These are wired and
wireless. Guided media (wired), refers to the transmission of the information over a wire based
communication technology include twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable. Of
those wired Media’s fiber optic is the most efficient because it has large bandwidth, more
reliable, and higher flexibility. In wireless media, information is transmitted by radiating a
modulated electromagnetic wave at a certain carrier frequency by means of a transmitter antenna
and picking up energy of the radiated wave by means of a receiver antenna. The electrical signal
has to change to electromagnetic wave using antenna in order to radiate through space[1]. Since
most of our service such as radio broadcasting, mobile communication, TV broadcasting, radar
and satellite applications are done wirelessly the study of antenna is one task in communication
system.
Antenna is a transducer that converts the electrical signal to electromagnetic wave.we may also
define as it is a metallic device (rod or wire) used for radiating or receiving radio wave or a
translational structure between free space and the guided media[4]. There are so many types of
antennas depending on different criteria. Wire antenna, aperture antenna, reflector antenna, lens
antenna, array antenna and microstrip antenna and so on.
The configuration of individual radiating antenna that are arranged in space and can be used to
produce a directional radiation pattern. Since single element antennas have radiation patterns that
are broad and hence have a low directivity and have wide beam width compared to array
antenna. That is not suitable for long distance communications with more directive radiation .To
solve this problem we use array antenna. An Antenna array is a radiating system comprising
radiators and elements. Each of this radiator has its own induction field [3]. The elements are
placed so closely that each one lies in the neighbouring one’s induction field. Therefore, the
radiation pattern produced by them, would be the vector sum of the individual ones.
Phased Array Antennas are antenna arrays that have the unique ability to change the shape and
direction of the radiation pattern without physically moving the antenna[6]. Elements in an
antenna array are placed in such a way that the signals transmitted by individual antennas sum up
and provide better gain, directivity and performance in a particular direction.This is achieved by
transmitting signals of the same frequency from all the individual elements in the array but with
a certain phase difference/shift between each antenna element in the array. The phase shift is
calculated to provide constructive interference in the desired direction while destructive
interference may occur in other directions. As mentioned above, PARs do not have moving parts,
which is enormously beneficial for radar applications. First and foremost, the field of view can
be changed in a few microseconds. This is significantly faster than a conventional rotating radar
dish, which can take much longer to complete a revolution. The dwell time, or the time that a
radar can spend sending signals to a target, is freely selectable, increasing the hits per scan on the
target. More hits per scan means a richer image quality of the target. For conventional radars the
dwell time is limited by the speed of rotation of the antenna.
In this project we will design phase array antenna for radar application to achieve high
performance by varying the relative phase shift between each elements .

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2. Literature Review
 Phased array transmission was originally shown in 1905 by“ Nobel laureate Karl Ferdinand
Braun” who demonstrated enhanced transmission of radio waves in one direction. During
World War II, Nobel laureate Luis Alvarez used phased array transmission in a rapidly
steerable radar system for "ground-controlled approach", a system to aid in the landing of
aircraft. Phased arrays were developed at the University of Cambridge. This design is also
used for radar, and is generalized in radio antennas.
 [Robert, 2007], Arrays reception pattern depends on the positions of the antenna elements
which make up the arrays. Beam width depends on the inter element spacing between
element for an N element array. If N element array spacing is increased than beam width
decrease. Increasing the size of the array, it would produce the grating lobes which are the
undesirable direction pattern. To avoid the grating lobes, spacing between the elements
should be half wavelength, sometimes it also called aliasing which produce same set of
phases across the array when waves from two distinct directions is arrived. Antenna array
deploy signals based on the phase difference, aliasing results unable to distinguish signals
from dissimilar DOAs in the array. If spacing between adjacent arrays are non-uniform then
aliasing exists, if spacing between arrays are uniform then maximum gain and directivity can
be achieved.
In early time the main challenge to achieve high performance in phase array antenna for radar
application were the complexity of phase array antenna to adjust the phase shift and their costs.
to overcome those challenges, we will use key sight’s path wave system design software.

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3. Statement of the problem
As we have seen the main problem in phase array antenna is, creating sharp beams in a desired
direction and minimizing grating lobes. The presence of grating lobes can lead to a
misrepresentation of a radar target. To control signal in all direction without mechanically
moving the antenna without compromise in gain and directivity, we need to vary the steering
angel of the phased antenna array. This helps to steer the main lobe in to desire direction. To
improve performance of the phased Array Antenna in such situation we need to vary the
distance between the elements. So we mainly focus on vary steering angel of the phased array to
shift the direction of radiation and vary the distance between the element to boost array
radiation performance. All simulations are assumed to use MATLAB.

4. Objectives of the study

The main and specific objectives of the project are as described below.

4.1 General objective of the study

The main aim of this project is Performance analysis of phase array antenna for radar application.

4.2 Specific objectives

The specific objectives of the project include:

 To analyze the phased antenna array principle.

 To see how the relative distance remove the granting lobe.
 To study the effect of varying numbers of element in the directivity of phased array for
radar application.
 Varying the phase shift between the elements to change the radiating direction.

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1.6. Methodology
The methodologies used to achieve a specific emphasis on the performance analysis of phased
array antenna for radar application. The characteristic performance evaluation implemented in
this work is mainly linear phased array antenna. To measure performance using this, simulation
approach is implemented using MATLAB.
Generally, the formal methodologies to be used to achieve objectives of the work are lists in
figure 1 below:

Figure-1: Overall workflow

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5. Expected result
As we know there is always radiation of power to the unintended direction besides of the desired
lobe. This may lead misrepresentation in radar application. we will improve this by increasing
the numbers of the elements in order to achieve the desired gain of phased array antenna and its
efficiency and we will increase the distance between the elements of array antenna to minimize
the power of grant lobe to standard value, that is bellow -20decible(-20dB).

6. Time table of the semester project

The semester project duration taken to finalize is expected as tabulated below.

Task Time duration in [Weeks]
Literature survey 4(day)
Software training 1week
Theoretical concept understanding 5(days)
Performing simulation 5(days)
Report writing 3(days)
Total 4

Reference
[1] C. A. Balanis, Antenna Theory, Analysis and Design, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey,
2005.

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[2] http//www.google.com free encyclopedia.

[3] Second EditionR. C. HANSENConsulting Engineer R. C. Hansen, Inc.www.rchansen.com

[4] The IEEE Standard Definitions of Terms for Antennas (IEEE Std 145–1983)

[5] W. L.Stutzman and G. A.Thiele, Antenna Theory and Design, Wiley, New York, 1998.

[6] Depardo, Dan, “2.3-2.4 GHz Ph ased-Array Prototype”, 2004.

[7] Stutzman, Warren L. & Gary A. Thiele, antenna Theory & Design. New York, NY: John
Wiley & York, NY: John Wiley

[8] Huie, C. Keith, Microstri Antennas: Broadband Radiation Patterns Using Photonic Crystal
Substrates, 2002.

[10] L. Josephson and P. Persson, Conformal Array Antenna Theory and Design, IEEE (New
York:Wiley, 2006).