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27008 - anten

Anten và truyền sóng (Trường Đại học Bách khoa Hà Nội)

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Journal of Innovations in Engineering Education | Vol: 3 | Issue: 1 | March 2020

Design of Log Periodic Dipole Array Antenna

Ranging from 30 to 150 MHz
Upendra Subedi*,1, Rabin Nepal1, Rhimesh Lwagun1, and Sanjay Rijal1
1
Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Thapathali Campus, Institute of Engineering,
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
*
Corresponding Email: tha073bex347@tcioe.edu.np

ABSTRACT

This paper describes construction of 16 element frequency independent and high bandwidth Log Periodic
Dipole Array antenna which works within the frequency range of 30 to 150 MHz. The antenna of gain
8 dBi is designed by calculating the parameters from Matlab. Matlab program is used to calculate the
parameters like length of elements, separation between elements, theoretical impedance, standing wave
ratio, etc. Thus, the designed antenna was fabricated. The antenna element is a cylindrical aluminum
pipe of diameter 9mm and the boom used is rectangular antenna pipe of dimension 1”X1”. Fabrication
also includes other materials like M-seal, zip tie, etc for physical stability of the antenna. Log Periodic
Dipole Array antenna design described in this paper is fed with 75 ohm coaxial cable to 1:1 balun. Balun
is also used for impedance matching between the antenna and coaxial cable. Antenna analyzer is used to
measure Standing Wave Ratio and Impedance which are found to be 1.623 and 71.5625 ohm
respectively. The antenna can be a receiver or a transmitter type for operating with the signals within
Very High Frequency band.

Keywords: Antenna, Frequency Independent, Log Periodic Dipole Array, Very High Frequency

1. INTRODUCTION

Antenna is a device that converts electric signal into electromagnetic signal and vice versa.
Communication through unguided medium uses electromagnetic signals and antennas. Nature and size
antenna vary for according to frequency of radio wave that is used for communication.

Among various types of antennas, LPDA antenna is used for transmitting signals of higher frequency
range. LPDAs are frequency independent, broadband, directional antennas that consists of element
varying logarithmically in both length and spacing between the elements. The length of dipoles are
associated with half the wavelength of receiving signal. LPDA is used for Television, point to point
communication, as receiving antenna in receiving station, Radio and many more. Depending on its
design parameters, LPDA can be operated across a wide range of frequencies in VHF as well as UHF
and over this range the gain, feed-point impedance, front-to-back ratio, etc. remains more or less
constant. LPDA exhibits relatively low standing wave ratio (SWR) over a wide range of frequencies
usually 2:1 and has frequency independent performance as well. [1] R.H. DuHamel first designed Log

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Design of Log Periodic Dipole Array Antenna Ranging from 30 to 150 MHz

periodic antenna in 1957. [2] The first work on LPDA was published in 1960 by D.E. Isbell. However,
the practical design was first published in 1961 by CARREL [3].

Designing of LPDA antenna includes calculation of parameters like number and size of antenna
elements, boom spacing, and separation between antenna elements. All calculations are done using
Matlab. Impedance and standing wave ratio (SWR) of antenna was measured with vector network
analyzer also known as Antenna analyzer.

2. MATHEMATICAL MODELING

The elements of LPDA are excited with 180 degree phase shift with length and spacing between the
elements varying in accordance with equation 1 and 2. [4] Here, length of ith element of antenna is Li
and spacing between ith and (i+1)th element is denoted by Ri.

Figure 1: General structure of LPDA.

𝑳𝒊+𝟏 = 𝛕𝑳𝒊 (1)

𝑹𝒊+𝟏 = 𝛕𝑹𝒊 (2)

𝑹𝒊 – 𝑹𝒊−𝟏 (3)
𝝈 =
𝟐 . 𝑳𝒊

Where τ is design constant called periodicity (0 < τ < 1) and σ is relative spacing of the elements.

The design input parameters are the nominal input resistance (R 0), the desired gain (G) relative to
isotropic radiator, and frequency range expressed as the lower (f1) and upper (f2) operating frequencies.

In the design R0 is taken 50 ohm to achieve VSWR less than 1.5. The lower cutoff frequency (f1) is 30
MHz and upper cutoff frequency (f2) is 150 MHz with a gain of 8 dBi. The gain of antenna is constant
and taken as reference for estimating values of periodicity (τ) and relative spacing (σ).

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Journal of Innovations in Engineering Education | Vol: 3 | Issue: 1 | March 2020

Figure 2: Relative spacing vs. periodicity graph. For the gain of 8 dbi,
relation between sigma and tau is as equation (4)

The corresponding values τ and σ for Gain (G) = 8 dBi is determined from the relative spacing vs
periodicity graph exhibiting linear relationship of τ and σ as:
𝜎 = 0.243 𝜏 − 0.051 (4)

Relative bandwidth (B) of the system was calculated as,

𝑓2 (5)
𝐵 =
𝑓1
Active region bandwidth (Bar), structure bandwidth (Bs) was calculated as,
4𝜎 (6)
𝐵𝑎𝑟 = 1.1 + 7.7(1 − 𝜏)2
1 − 𝜏
𝑓2 (7)
𝐵𝑠 = 𝐵 ∗ 𝐵𝑎𝑟 = ∗ 𝐵𝑎𝑟
𝑓1
The required number of dipole elements (N) and length of longest element which corresponds to the
frequency of 30MHz were calculated as,

𝑙𝑜𝑔(𝐵𝑠 ) (8)
𝑁= 1 + ( )
𝑙𝑜𝑔(1 − 𝜏)
𝐶 (9)
𝐿1 =
2𝑓
Where C is the speed of EM waves in vacuum. The spacing between two elements is given by,

4𝜎 (10)
𝑅𝑖 – 𝑅𝑖 + 1 = (𝐿𝑖 − 𝐿𝑖 + 1) ∗
1−𝜏
For higher front-to-back ratio at the lowest frequency, the antenna feeder is shorted at a distance L s
behind the longest element. The short acts as a reflector; its distance from the longest element is given
by. [4]

𝜆 (11)
𝐿𝑠 =
4

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Design of Log Periodic Dipole Array Antenna Ranging from 30 to 150 MHz

The distance between booms is calculated as,

𝑍0 (12)
𝑑𝑓 = 𝑏𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ ( )
120
Where, b is the diameter of feeder tube and
Z0 is the feeder characteristic impedance ensuring the lowest possible VSWR [4].
𝑍0 2 √𝜏 (𝑅0 √𝜏)2 (13)
𝑍0 = + 𝑅0 √ +1
8𝑍𝑎𝑣 𝜎 (8𝑍𝑎𝑣 𝜎)2
Where,
𝑍𝑎𝑣 = 120 𝑙𝑛 𝑆 – 2.25 (14)
The slimness factor can be calculated as
𝐿𝑖 (15)
𝑆 =
2𝑎𝑖
Where 2ai is the diameter of ith element and Li is its length.

2.1. CALCULATION OF SWR

When antenna receives signals transmitted from transmitter, some portion of the signal gets reflected
back and the coefficient of reflection (⍴) is calculated as,

𝑍1 − 𝑍2 (16)
⍴=| |
𝑍1 + 𝑍2

Where, ⍴ = reflection coefficient and Z1 and Z2 are impedances of mismatched lines. Using the value of
reflection coefficient, Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) is,

1+⍴ (17)
𝑆𝑊𝑅 =
1−⍴

Ideally, SWR is 1:1 which means that there is no power being reflected back to the source. Practically,
a SWR of 1.2:1 is considered excellent in most cases. [5] At SWR of 2:1, approximately 10% of the
power is reflected back to the source. Not only does a high VSWR mean that power is being wasted, the
reflected power can cause problems such as heating cables or causing amplifiers to fold-back.

Calculation of Return Loss and Mismatch Loss:

𝑉𝑆𝑊𝑅 – 1 (18)
𝑅𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑠 = − 20 𝑙𝑜𝑔 [ ]
𝑉𝑆𝑊𝑅 + 1

∴ 𝑅𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑠 = − 20 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝜌 (19)

𝑀𝑖𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 = −10 𝑙𝑜𝑔( 1 − 𝜌2 ) (20)

Receiving log-periodic dipole array antenna was designed using the above mathematical calculations.

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Journal of Innovations in Engineering Education | Vol: 3 | Issue: 1 | March 2020

3. PARAMETER CALCULATION

The values of τ and σ taken from graph are used to calculate length and spacing of elements.

The parameter calculation for designing antenna is done on Matlab. Value of τ, σ, upper frequency and
lower frequency are taken as input parameters for calculation. Formulas for calculation is based on
aforementioned equations. Algorithm used while calculating in Matlab is as follows:

1. Start
2. Enter values of τ, σ, and lower and upper cut-off frequency
3. Calculate bandwidth (B) = upper frequency/ lower frequency
4. Calculate active region bandwidth (Bar)
5. Calculate maximum wavelength = speed of EM wave in vacuum / lower frequency
6. Calculate number of elements (N)
7. Calculate characteristics impedance (Z0)
8. Calculate separation of two elements.
9. Calculate length of elements: Li = τ Li+1
4𝜎
10. Calculate spacing between the elements: 𝑅𝑖 – 𝑅𝑖 + 1 = (𝐿𝑖 − 𝐿𝑖 + 1) ∗ .
1−𝜏
11. Repeat step 9 and 10 for 16 times.
12. Calculate SWR
13. Display all results.
14. End

Calculations of parameters using program yields output variables as follow:

Upper cutoff frequency (f2) = 150 MHz

Lower cutoff frequency (f1) = 30 MHz
𝑓
Bandwidth (B) = 2 = 5
𝑓1
Antenna impedance for maximum power transfer and directivity (R 0) = 50 ohm
Gain (G) = 8dBi
Relative spacing (σ) = 0.175
Design constant or Periodicity (𝝉) = 0.865
Longest length of dipole (L1) = 4.9965 m.
Active region bandwidth (Bar) = 1.82765
Structure bandwidth (Bs) = 9.13825
Number of dipole elements (N) = 16
Separation between booms = 6.887 cm
Zavg = 363.686
Feeder characteristic Impedance (Z0) = 238.3072

As the number of elements was found to be 16 for our frequency range, sixteen dimensions of elements
and spacing between them is calculated and tabulated as below:

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Design of Log Periodic Dipole Array Antenna Ranging from 30 to 150 MHz

Table 1: Length of half element of antenna element varying logarithmically. Length of element is taken
half as antenna contains two booms.

Element Length of half Element Length of half

(Li) element(cm) (Li) element(cm)
L1 249.825 L9 78.3
L2 216.098 L10 67.729
L3 186.925 L11 58.586
L4 161.862 L12 50.677
L5 139.862 L13 43.835
L6 120.98 L14 37.981
L7 104.648 L15 32.799
L8 90.520 L16 28.371

Table 2: Spacing between elements varying logarithmically

Spacing between Spacing(cm) Spacing between Spacing (cm)

elements (Ri-Ri+1) elements (Ri-Ri+1)
R1 – R2 87.44 R9 – R10 27.41
R2 – R3 75.63 R10 – R11 23.70
R3 – R4 65.42 R11 – R12 20.50
R4 – R5 56.59 R12 – R13 17.74
R5 – R6 48.95 R13 – R14 15.34
R6 – R7 42.34 R14 – R15 13.27
R7 – R8 36.63 R15 - R16 11.48
R8 – R9 31.68

4. DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION

Two booms of dimension 1”X1” was used to fabricate elements. Feeder tube and antenna elements both
are aluminum tubes. Elements were mounted on the boom using barrel nut of sliding lock and fixed
using M-seal. Each half element was mounted on the boom maintaining equal spacing on both the booms
in a zigzag manner so that single feeder on the antenna booms provides alternative polarity. Screws and
aluminum foils were used for mounting the bolt on the boom and attaching the elements on the bolt.

Figure 1: Antenna Fabrication. Barrel bolt was mounted on boom and antenna elements were fixed on
the bolt using M-seal and aluminum tape.

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Journal of Innovations in Engineering Education | Vol: 3 | Issue: 1 | March 2020

The antenna designed was fed with 75 ohm coaxial cable with a balun. Balun is basically a transformer,
used to connect balanced line with unbalanced one. Balun provides impedance transformation in addition
to conversion between balanced and unbalanced signal modes; others provide no impedance
transformation. For 1:1 baluns (no impedance transformation), the input and output are usually both 50
ohms and 75 ohms. The most common impedance-transformation ratio is 1:4 (alternatively 4:1). Some
baluns provide other impedance-transformation ratios, such as 1:9 (and 9:1), 1:10 (and 10:1), or 1:16
(and 16:1). Impedance-transformer baluns having a 1:4 ratio are used between systems with impedances
of 50 or 75 ohms (unbalanced) and 200 or 300 ohms (balanced).

Figure 2: Impedance matching balun constructed with ferrite core and insulated copper wire. [6]

The overall fabricated structure is as shown below:

Figure 3: Fully fabricated antenna installed on Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering,
Thapathali Campus, Kathmandu.

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Design of Log Periodic Dipole Array Antenna Ranging from 30 to 150 MHz

5. DESIGN ANALYSIS

Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) is an instrument that measures the network parameters of an electrical
network such as characteristic impedance in complex form along with its absolute value and Standing
Wave Ratio (SWR) at tuned frequency. VNA used in our project was Color Graphic Antenna Analyzer
SA-250. It was used to measure the characteristic impedance of LPDA antenna. In addition to this, it
was also helpful in determining whether the signal was transmitted from balanced to unbalanced line
with low SWR or not. To measure the characteristic impedance of the antenna and confirm the proper
operation of the balun, the VNA was connected to the feed point using SMA connector extending from
50 Ohm coaxial cable. The output of balun was connected to the VNA using SMA connector extending
from 75 Ohm coaxial cable. The average SWR was measured at 16 different frequencies with an average
of 1.623 while the impedance of the antenna was averaged to 71.5625 ohm.

Figure 4: Antenna Analyzer showing properties of antenna at frequency of 145.5 MHz.

6. CONCLUSION

The designed Log Periodic Dipole Array Antenna can be used as receiving or transmitting antenna for
high bandwidth signal transmission. It has frequency range of 30 MHz to 150 MHz. The value of SWR
and impedance was found to be in the acceptable range.
The error on SWR and Impedance were 8.2 % and 4.58% respectively. The capacitive effect due to
separation between the booms introduced the error on Impedance, whereas the error on SWR was as a
result of imperfect impedance matching.
The working range of antenna is in Very High Frequency (VHF) band. In VHF band, LPDA is suitable
as a common receiving antenna for different kind of signals like radio signals of range 80 MHz to 108
MHz, Navigation Aids and Aviation controls working respectively on frequency range of 108 MHz to
118 MHz and 118 MHz to 135 MHz. Furthermore, the antenna can be used as receiving antenna for
solar radio outbursts that occur at the working frequency range of the antenna. For the detection of solar
radio outbursts the antenna was placed on open space facing the sun. The receiver system connected to
it was used to monitor the change in intensity pattern of the radio outbursts then predict solar flares and
radio blackouts.

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Journal of Innovations in Engineering Education | Vol: 3 | Issue: 1 | March 2020

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thank our project supervisor Er. Saroj Shakya and Mr. Sunil Sera Karki for all the
guidance they had provided. We would also like to acknowledge with much appreciation the help
provided by Orion Space Nepal. Finally, we are very thankful to the Department of Electronics and
Computer Engineering, IOE Thapathali Campus for providing us workspace.

REFERENCES

[1] C. A. Balanis, Antenna Theory Analysis and Design, Hobokin, New Jersey: A John Wiley and sons.
[2] D. Isbell, R. DuHamel , Broadband logarithmically periodic antenna structures, New York: IEEE,
1966.
[3] R. L. Carrel, "Analysis and Design of Log Periodic Dipole Antenna," Electrical Engineering
Department, University of Illioins, Ann Arbor, 1961.
[4] J. B. V. B. Frantisek Hutira, "Design and Investigation of a log-periodic antenna for DCS, PCS and
UMTS mobile communications bands".
[5] V. S. Kale, "Impedance and Power Loss Characteristics of," International Journal of Advanced
Research in Computer and Communication Engineering, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 625-628, 2016.
[6] J. Sevick, Transmission Line Transormers Handbook, Amidon Associates Inc..

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