ISSN (Online) 2321 – 2004

ISSN (Print) 2321 – 5526

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS, INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL ENGINEERING
Vol. 3, Issue 5, May 2015

N×N Antenna Array Simulations Using

MATLAB
P. Sai Vinay Kumar1, Dr M. Padmaja2

Abstract: This paper presents simulation of a C-Band (6 GHz) , N×N (N=2, 4, 8, 16, 32) uniformly spaced planar array
antenna using MATLAB 2013. The antenna array is simulated using MATLAB code and antenna parameters like
Array Factor beam, Array Factor (dB) are calculated using MATLAB coding and hence their graphs are plotted for
2×2, 4×4, 8×8, 16×16, 32×32 array individually.
Index terms: Antenna Array, Array Factor, Planar Array.

I.INTRODUCTION
Phased array antenna is a multiple-antenna system. In Array Factor:
order to achieve higher directivity and additional gain, The array factor is the function of the positions of the
antenna elements can be arranged to form linear or planar antennas in the array and the weights used. Array Factor is
arrays. Consist of multiple antennas (elements) given by formula shown below
„collaborating‟ to synthesize radiation characteristics not
available with a single antenna. They are able to match the
radiation pattern to the desired coverage area and to
change the radiation pattern electronically through the
control of the phase and amplitude. In addition, they are
used to scan the beam of an antenna system, increase the
directivity, and perform various other functions which
would be difficult with any one single element. The
elements can be fed by a single line or by multiple lines in
a feed network arrangement. There are three types of AF – Array Factor.
array: liner array, planner array and conformal array. Y - Output of phased array
Phased array antennas are common in communications wi - Phased weights with which antenna array elements
and radar and offer the benefit of far-field beam shaping are multiplied.
and steering for specific, agile operational conditions. - Radiation pattern.
They are especially useful in modern adaptive radar
systems where there is a trend toward active phased arrays III. RESULTS
and more advanced space-time adaptive signal processing.
The N×N (N=2, 4, 8, 16, 32) antenna array is simulated
II. THEORITICAL CONSIDERATIONS and Number of elements, array factor are plotted using
MATLAB code. The below are the results for 2×2 , 4×4,
In this paper, an N×N (N=2, 4, 8, 16, 32) planar array [7], 8×8, 16×16, 32×32 planar arrays.
with uniform amplitude, spacing and with phased weights
is generated using MATLAB code. The planar array is Results for 2×2 Array:
shown in Fig 1. The weights are designed to steer the
planar antenna array towards the desired direction Rectangular array of Elements 2*2

.
14

12

10

2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Fig 2(a) 2×2 Rectangular Array

Fig 1 Planar Array

Copyright to IJIREEICE DOI 10.17148/IJIREEICE.2015.3557 242

 ISSN (Online) 2321 – 2004
ISSN (Print) 2321 – 5526

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS, INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL ENGINEERING
Vol. 3, Issue 5, May 2015

Array Factor Beam 2*2 Array Factor Beam 4*4

1 1

0.8 0.8

Array Factor
Array Factor

0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4

0.2 0.2

0 0
1
1
1.5 0.5
1
1
0 0.5 0.5
0
0 0
-1 -0.5
Y Y X
X
Fig 2(b) Array Factor Beam Fig 3(b) Beam Array Factor

Array Factor (db) vs. theta & phy 2*2 Array Factor (db) vs. theta & phy 4*4

0
0

-2 -10
Array Factor in db

Array Factor in db

-20
-4
-30

-6 -40

-50
-8
100 -60
50 100 100
0 50 50 100
0 50
-50 0
-50 0
-100 -100 -50 -50
theta phy
theta -100 -100
phy
Fig 2(c) Array Factor (dB)
Fig 3(c) Array Factor (dB)
Results for 4×4 Array:
Results for 8×8 Array:
Rectangular array of Elements 4*4
Rectangular array of Elements 8*8
25

45

20 40

35

15 30

25

10
20

15
5
10

5
5 10 15 20 25
Fig 3(a) 4×4 Rectangular Array 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Fig 4(a) 8×8 Rectangular Array

Copyright to IJIREEICE DOI 10.17148/IJIREEICE.2015.3557 243

 ISSN (Online) 2321 – 2004
ISSN (Print) 2321 – 5526

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS, INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL ENGINEERING
Vol. 3, Issue 5, May 2015

Array Factor Beam 8*8 Array Factor Beam 16*16

1
1
0.8
0.8

Array Factor
0.6
Array Factor

0.6
0.4

0.4 0.2

0.2 0

0 0.4 1
0.2
0.6 0.5
0.4 0
1 0
0.2 Y X
0 0.5
-0.2 0 Fig 5(b) Beam Array Factor
Y X
Fig 4(b) Beam Array Factor Array Factor (db) vs. theta & phy 16*16

Array Factor (db) vs. theta & phy 8*8

0 -10
Array Factor in db

-10 -20
Array Factor in db

-20 -30

-30 -40

-40 -50

-50 -60
100
-60 50 100
100 0 50
50 100 0
-50 -50
0 50
0 theta -100 -100
-50 phy
-50
theta -100 -100
phy Fig 5(c) Array Factor (dB)
Results for 32×32 Array:
Fig 4(c) Array Factor (dB)
Results for 16×16 Array:
Rectangular array of Elements 32*32
180
Rectangular array of Elements 16*16
160
90

140
80

120
70

100
60

80
50

60
40

40
30

20 20

10 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Fig 6(a) 32×32 Rectangular Array

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Fig 5(a) 16×16 Rectangular Array

Copyright to IJIREEICE DOI 10.17148/IJIREEICE.2015.3557 244

 ISSN (Online) 2321 – 2004
ISSN (Print) 2321 – 5526

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS, INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL ENGINEERING
Vol. 3, Issue 5, May 2015

Array Factor Beam 32*32

[4] A.A. Oliner, G.H. Knittel, "phased array antennas", Artech House,
INC. Dedham, Massachmsetts 02026.
[5] W.L. Stuzman, G.A. Theili, "Antenna theory and Design ". Johr
Wiley& sons In c. 1981.
1
[6] R.C. Hansen , "phased array antennas",Wileyseries in microwave
and optical Engineering, 1998. www.antenna-theory.com
0.8 [7] J. Microw. “Design of multiple function antenna array using radial
basis function neural network” Optoelectron. Electromagn.
Appl. vol.12 no.1 São Caetano do Sul June 2013
Array Factor

0.6
[8] Z.N. Chen, Broadband Planar Antennas, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley
0.4 & Sons, 2006.
[9] Elliott,R.S., Antenna theory and Design, Revised edition, Hoboken,
0.2 NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2003

0
BIOGRAPHIES
0.4
0.8
0.2 0.6 P. Sai Vinay Kumar obtained B.Tech
0.2
0.4 degree in Electronics and
0
Y 0
X
Communication Engineering from KL
Fig 6(b) Beam Array Factor University in 2013. He is pursuing his
M.Tech (Communication Engineering
Array Factor (db) vs. theta & phy 32*32 and Signal Processing) degree from VR
Siddhartha Engineering College,
Vijayawada, India. His areas of interest are Antenna
0
designing & Wave Propagation.
-10
Dr.M Padmaja obtained B.Tech
Array Factor in db

-20 degree in Electronics and

-30 communications in VR Siddhartha
college of engineering. She received
-40
her MS degree from BITS Pilani. She
-50 did her Ph.D program in the area of
-60
communications and signal processing
100 in venkateswara university college of
50 100 Engineering,Tirupati. She is currently working as
50
0
0
Professor, Department of ECE in V R Siddhartha
-50 -50 Engineering College, Vijayawada,India. She has taught a
theta -100 -100 wide variety of courses for UG & PG students and guided
phy
several projects. She has published several papers in
Fig 6(c) Array Factor (dB) National & International Journals & Conferences. She is
the life member of MISTE, FIETE, MIE(I), MBMESI,
IV CONCLUSION MSEMCEI.
An N×N (N=2,4,8,16,32) planar antenna array is
generated using MATLAB code and the antenna array
parameter “Array Factor” is plotted (using an equation
represented in theoretical part of this paper) for each array
individually. It is observed that the Directivity of the
Beam Array Factor of the Antenna Array is increasing
with increase in the number of antenna elements and also
analysed the effect of the increasing antenna elements on
the Array Factor.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Extending our grateful thanks to the management of V R
Siddhartha Engineering College for their support and
encouragement to write this paper.

REFERENCES

[1] C. A. Balanis, “Antenna theory analysis and design”,Jhon Wiley &

Sons, Inc., Second Edition, 1996.
[2] Matlab formal web site www.mathworks.com.
[3] Pozar, D. M., and D. H. Schaubert (Eds), ''the Analysis an d Design
of Microstrip Antennas and Arrays, IEEE Press, New York, 1996.

Copyright to IJIREEICE DOI 10.17148/IJIREEICE.2015.3557 245