The investigation of mutual coupling effects on a large array antenna radiation pattern

This paper presents a radiation pattern synthesis of a large array antenna. The radiation pattern has been synthesized with and without mutual coupling effect. The consideration of the mutual coupling ensure better agreement of desired radiation pattern, especially, when a very low side lobe level is demanded (≤-30 dB). The calculation process of mutual couplings is based upon mutual impedance calculated with using full electromagnetic simulator, where whole mechanical antenna aperture is taken under consideration. For calculations of impedances, CST MW Studio 2017 electromagnetic software has been used. Moreover differences between synthesized and measured radiation patterns for a large array antenna are shown and discussed. Also the effect of shifted reference plane in the simulation of mutual impedances is discussed.