CHARACTERIZATION AND SIMULATION OF MICROWAVE STRIPLINE DEVICES
Open Access
- Author:
- Brown, Tucker
- Graduate Program:
- Engineering Science and Mechanics
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- March 21, 2022
- Committee Members:
- Albert Segall, Program Head/Chair
Michael T Lanagan, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Steven Edward Perini, Committee Member - Keywords:
- microwave
5G
transmission lines
microstrip - Abstract:
- This report examines how dielectric properties such as permittivity and loss affect the propagation of electromagnetic waves within a transmission line structure. To understand how these properties affect transmission materials were first characterized using three different measurement techniques: split post resonator, split cavity resonator, and Fabry-Perot open resonator. These three measurement techniques helped generate a broadband characterization for different ceramic and polymer materials. Additionally, a deeper analysis of the Q-factor for the Fabry-Perot open resonator was performed to understand the accuracy of the results. Following characterization using physical measurements the recorded data were used to model various microstrip devices in a software called COMSOL Multiphysics. Within the RF module, parameters such as dielectric permittivity, dielectric loss and conductivity were altered to observe the performance of each microstrip. Changing the material used for the conducting strip and the ground plane altered the attenuation per unit length within the device. Using data from different frequencies and materials the attenuation per unit length was calculated using the scattering parameters that were simulated in COMSOL. As simulations were performed at higher frequencies and with materials of higher permittivity the presence of surface waves became more apparent. Altering the physical dimensions of the microstrip devices helped reduce surface wave propagation allowing for microwave simulation up to 100 GHz. Using a combination of physical measurements and microwave simulations a group of ceramic and polymer materials were characterized to determine overall performance.