Lecture-5

6.3.4 Directivity of a linear array

(i) Directivity of a broadside array
The array factor of a broadside array can be written as
N

sin
kd cos
1 2

AFn
1

N
sin 2 kd cos

(6.28)

For small spacing between the elements (d << ) the normalized array factor can be approximated as:
N

sin kd cos
2

N kd cos

AFn

(6.29)

Then the radiation intensity can be expressed as:

2

U ( ) AFn

D0 4

2
sin kd cos
2
sin Z

Z
N kd cos

(6.30)

U max U max

Prad
U av

(6.31)

where U av Prad / 4 .
The radiation intensity in the direction of maximum radiation, / 2 in terms of
U max U / 2 1
1
D0 U av

AFn

is unity:
(6.32)

Radiation intensity averaged over all directions is calculated as

2

U av

1
4

0 0

sin Z
Z

sin d d

1
2

sin kd cos
2

sin d
N
kd cos
2

Changing the variables:

Z

N
N
kd cos dZ kd sin d
2
2

Then,

(6.33)

Nkd
2

sin Z

dZ
Z
Nkd

1 2
2 N kd

U av

2
Nkd
2

sin Z

dZ
Z
Nkd

1
Nkd

U av

(6.34)

The function ( Z sin Z ) is a relatively fast decaying function as Z increases. For large array Nkd / 2 is
too large and, (6.34) can be approximated by extending the limit to infinity.
U av

1
Nkd

Since

U av

D0

sin Z

dZ
Z
2

sin z

dz
z

(6.35)

Nkd

1
Nkd

U av

d
2N

(6.36)

Substituting the length of the array L ( N 1)d in (6.36)

L d

D0 2 1
d

(6.37)

For large arrays (L >> d) the diretivity can be reduced to

D0 2 L /

(6.38)

(ii) Directivity of an ordinary endfire array

Consider an endfire array with maximum radiation at = 00, i.e. kd .
The radiation intensity of the endfire array can be expressed as
2

2
sin kd (cos 1)
2
sin Z

N kd (cos 1) Z

2

U AFn

where Z

N
kd cos 1 .
2

(639)

The maximum value of the radiation intensity is unity and it occurrs at = 00. The average value of the
radiation intensity is given by:
U av

P
1
rad
4
4

As Z

0 0

1 sin Z
sin Z
Z sin d d 2 Z sin d .

(6.40)

N
kd cos 1
2

so

dZ

N
kd sin d
2

Then the average radiation intensity can be expressed as:

U av

1 2
2 Nkd

Nkd / 2

1
sin Z
Z dZ Nkd

Nkd /2

sin Z
Z dZ

(6.41)

For a large array Nkd is sufficiently large, then

U av

Nkd

sin Z
Z dZ 2 Nkd

(6.42)

The directivity then have the value as:

D0

1
2 Nkd
d

4N
U av

(6.43)

In terms of the array length L ( N 1)d , the directivity can be expressed as:
L d

D0 4 1
d

(6.44)

For a large array (L >> ), the directivity reduces to:

D0

4L /

(6.45)

It is observed that the directivity of an endfire array is approximately twice as large as the directivity of
the broadside array.

6.3.5 Pattern characteristics of linear uniform arrays

A. Broadside array

NULLS
( AFn 0)

n
N
d

n cos1

where n = 1,2,3,4, ... and n N ,2 N ,3N ,...

MAXIMA
( AFn 1)

n cos1

where m = 0,1,2,3, ...

HALF-POWER POINTS:
h

1.391
cos 1

Nd

where

HALF-POWER BEAMWIDTH:

1.391 d
h 2 cos 1
,
Nd
2

FIRST-NULL BEAMWIDTH

n 2 cos 1

2
Nd

B. Endfire array

NULLS
( AFn 0)

n cos1 1

where n

n
N D

= 1,2,3,... and

n N ,2 N ,3N ,...

MAXIMA
( AFn 1)

n cos1 1

m
,
d

where m = 0,1,2,3,...

HALF-POWER POINTS:

h cos1 1

where

1.391
Nd
1

HALF-POWER BEAMWIDTH:
1.391
h 2cos 1 1
Nd

where

FIRST-NULL BEAMWIDTH:

n 2cos 1 1
Nd