Radio Wave Propagation Fundamentals: M.Sc. Sevda Abadpour Dr.-Ing. Marwan Younis

Chapter 2:
Radio Wave Propagation Fundamentals

M.Sc. Sevda Abadpour
Dr.-Ing. Marwan Younis
INSTITUTE OF RADIO FREQUENCY ENGINEERING AND ELECTRONICS
KIT – The Research University in the Helmholtz Association www.ihe.kit.edu

Scope of the (Today‘s) Lecture
D
Effects during wireless transmission of signals: A
analog
 physical phenomena that influence the propagation
source &
of electromagnetic waves channel
decoding
 no statistical description of those effects in terms digital
of modulated signals demodulation
filtering,
filtering,
amplification
amplification
Noise
Antennas
Propagation Time and Frequency
Phenomena Selective Radio Channel
2 12.11.2018 Chapter 2: Radio Wave Propagation Fundamentals Institute of Radio Frequency Engineering
and Electronics
Propagation Phenomena
refraction reflection
zT zR
path N
diffraction
transmitter Q QRi receiver

Ti path i
yT xR
yTi yRi
xT path 1
yR
scattering
reflection: scattering:
free space - plane wave reflection - rough surface scattering
propagation: - Fresnel coefficients - volume scattering
- line of sight
- no multipath diffraction: refraction in the
troposphere:
- knife edge diffraction - not considered
In general multipath propagation leads to fading at the receiver site
and Electronics
The Received Signal
Signal fading
Fading is a deviation of the
attenuation that a signal experiences
Frequency
over certain propagation media.
It may vary with time, position
and/or frequency Time
Classification of fading:
 large-scale fading (gradual change
in local average of signal level)
 small-scale fading (rapid variations
large-scale fading
due to random multipath signals)
small-scale fading
and Electronics
Propagation Models
Propagation models (PM) are being used to predict:

 average signal strength at a given distance from the transmitter
 variability of the signal strength in close spatial proximity to a particular location
Severe multipath conditions in

PM can be divided into:
urban areas (small-scale fading)
 large-scale models
(mean signal strength for large
transmitter receiver separation)
 small-scale models
(rapid fluctuations of the received
signal over very short travel distances)
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Large-Scale Propagation
Free Space Propagation
and Electronics
Free Space Propagation
Tx Rx
Assumptions:
Pt Pr
 unobstructed line of sight (LOS)
Gt Gr
 no multipath propagation
r
no (influence of) ground
Received power: Power density at Rx site: Antenna effective area:
Friis free space equation:
and Electronics
Received Power and Path Loss
Using:
i i
Assumptions:
 polarization matched receiving antenna
 conjugate complex impedance matching of the receiver
Path loss:
Isotropic path loss (no antenna gains):
and Electronics
Polarization
Orientation of Field Vectors and Reference Planes
and Electronics
Polarization of the EM Waves
Every elliptically polarized EM wave can be decomposed

into a horizontal and a vertical component.
Elliptical Circular Linear
and Electronics
T
Polarization: II, , V or H?
Plane of incidence: formed by the

normal vector to the reflecting surface
and Poynting vector of the incidence wave
EII or EV
E or EH
T
Polarization (E-field vector) with Polarization (E-field vector) with

respect to the plane of incidence: respect to the earth coordinates:
 parallel (II)  vertical (V)
T
 perpendicular ( )  horizontal (H)
and Electronics
Reflection and
Transmission
Dielectric Boundary
and Electronics
Snell’s Law of Reflection
θ i θr  surface large compared to the wave length
1  smooth surface (otherwise scattering)
 three angles: - incidence
2 - reflection
- transmission / refraction
θt
 Relation between angles through Fermat’s principle (principle of least time):
- “the rays of light (EM-waves) traverse the path of stationary optical length”
 This results in* Snell’s laws:
- “ratio of the sines of the angles of incidence and refraction is
equivalent to the opposite ratio of the indices of refraction”
- “the incidence and reflection angles are equal and they are in the same plane”
sin( i ) n2
 nx   r , x   r , x i   r
sin( t ) n1
*full derivation in Arthur Schuster: “An Introduction to the Theory of Optics”
and Electronics
Which Part is Transmitted / Reflected?
Derivation procedure:
 Definition of the electric field strength of the incident wave
 Reflected and transmitted field strengths
 Faraday’s law of induction
 Boundary conditions at the border between two dielectric media
 Decomposition of the incident waves on parallel and normal components
and Electronics
Fresnel Reflection & Transmission Coefficients
parallel
perpendicular
where:
Fresnel coefficients are frequency

dependent and in general complex
and Electronics
Brewster‘s Angle (I)
Angle, where no reflection occurs is Brewster’s Angle:

 exists only for parallel (II / V) polarization
 calculation by comparing the reflection coefficient to zero
 calculation by using “physical limitations”
and Electronics
Brewster‘s Angle (II)
Air (less dense)

Glass (dense)
and Electronics
Brewster‘s Angle (III)
phase in degree
and Electronics
Brewster‘s Angle (IV)
Operation principle of Brewster window:

 used for windows in optical or quasi optical systems
 window with normal incidence  reflection loses at window
 window tilted at Brewster’s angle  no reflection loses at window
Microwave gyrotron Brewster window
and Electronics
Total Internal Reflection (I)
When does the total internal reflection appears? n sin   n sin 

i i t t  t 90
 a ray must strike the medium’s boundary

n 
at an angle larger than the critical angle
  arcsin
c
t

 calculation by comparing the
n i 
transmission angle to 90 degree
critical angle exists only for nt < ni
Increasing the incidence angle

Total reflection of red laser light in PMMA
and Electronics
Total Internal Reflection (II)
Operation principle of rain sensors:
 IR-beam projected on the glass-air interface at a specific angle
 total inner reflection in dry conditions
 partial transmission to the second medium if windshield is wet
 reduced receive power triggers the sensor
Rain sensor in the rear view mirror
and Electronics
Visualization Parallel Pol – E-Field
Parallel Pol – Air to Glass Parallel Pol – Glass to Air
and Electronics
Visualization Perpendicular Pol – E-Field
Perpendicular Pol – Air to Glass Perpendicular Pol – Glass to Air
and Electronics
Reflection and
(no) Transmission
Perfect Electric Conductor (PEC)
and Electronics
Orthogonal PEC Reflection
Boundary conditions:
 Etan  Etan, i  Etan, r  0

 H norm  H norm ,i  H norm,r  0
reflected wave incident wave
Ey
Ey
SR S SR
Hx
Hx
HxR HxR EyR
EyR
and Electronics
PEC Reflection, Orthogonal Polarization
H
incident
wave Ey reflected
wave
Hxi Hi
S
S
Plane of incidence Eyi

ai Ey
Hzi
Hzr H
Eyr
PEC reflector
PEC reflection: Hxr Hr

 RII = +1 x y
z
 R = -1 (to ensure Etan= 0)
T
ai  ar
and Electronics
PEC Reflection: Applications
Reflection in the direction of incidence:
Radar calibration with metallic:
 dihedral
 trihedral (corner reflector)
Buoy with dihedral
Radar image with corner reflectors
Satellite radar
calibration
and Electronics
Two-Ray
Propagation Model
and Electronics
Geometry
T
d1
R
zT
zR
d2
air (𝜺𝒓 = 𝟏) j
j
r
ground (𝜺𝒓 )
d
Two-Ray model is based on geometrical optics and predicts large-scale fading
and Electronics
Assumptions
Assumptions in two-ray model:

 ground is PEC
 d >> zT,zR
Observations:
 the received power PR oscillates like a sin2 or cos2 with distance
 the minimum value of PR is 0
 the maximum value of PR is 4 · PR,freespace (+ 6 dB)
and Electronics
Large Distances
Conditions:
 d >> k0zTzR
 cos2x  1
 sin2x  x2
Observations:
 parallel pol: 20 dB / decade, perpendicular pol: 40 dB / decade
 perpendicular pol: independent on frequency
 perpendicular pol: antenna height gain (double zT or zR  quadruple PR)
and Electronics
Breakpoint
Definition:
The breakpoint is the distance
where the argument of the
sin2 and cos2 terms equals 0.5
0.5
Beyond the
0
1 breakpoint there
are no oscillations!
0.5
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
and Electronics
Polarization Dependence
perpendicular polarization parallel polarization
1/d2 1/d2
6 dB 6 dB
dependent
on frequency
1/d2
6 dB 6 dB
1/d4
independent
on frequency
and Electronics
Frequency Dependence
f = 900 MHz f = 4 GHz
dbreakpoint
dbreakpoint
distances of notches >> l
and Electronics
Path Loss Prediction
80dB 200m
(above ground)
height z
path loss
vertical (parallel)
polarization
50m
0m
130dB 0m range coordinate r (distance from transmitter) 2000m
80dB 200m
(above ground)
height z
path loss
horizontal (perpendicular)
polarization
50m
0m
130dB 0m range coordinate r (distance from transmitter) 2000m
and Electronics
Diffraction
Diffraction on Absorbing Half-Plates
and Electronics
Knife Edge Diffraction: Geometry
z
secondary
spherical
waves
z=H
rT
rR
H>0
y
x
dT dR
transmitter receiver
 obstacle: semi-infinite, infinitely thin, absorbing plate

 calculate behavior behind the plate: Huygens’ principle
 wave propagation behind the plate: sum of secondary waves
and Electronics
Knife Edge Diffraction: Model
Assumptions in knife edge model:

 cylindrical waves (2D problem)
 Tx and Rx at same height
 |H| << dT,dR
Fresnel Integrals
Field-strength relative to free space (no obstacle):
2 2
E 1 1  1 
   C ( )     S ( ) 
E H  2 2  2 
2 1 1 
 H   
l  dT d R 
and Electronics
Knife Edge Diffraction: Electric Field (I)
shadow region
- 6 dB
lit region
2 1 1 
 H   
l  dT d R 
and Electronics
Knife Edge Diffraction: Electric Field (II)
shadow region
- 6 dB
lit region
0 if   0.78
dB
E
 6.9  20 log   0.1    0.12  1
E H   
if   0.78
and Electronics
Knife Edge Diffraction: Frequency Dependence (I)
• field strength normalized
to free space level
• isotropic Tx antenna
• semi-infinite, absorbing plate
• f = 1 GHz, 3 GHz, 10 GHz
diffraction loss increases with frequency

 f for   1
and Electronics
Knife Edge Diffraction: Frequency Dependence (II)
SINGLE KNIFE EDGE DIFFRACTION ,
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
shadow / lit region
-6 dB
f∞
transmitter height = obstacle height

distance transmitter to knife edge = 1000m
distance knife edge to receiver = 100m
and Electronics
Fresnel Ellipsoids
Nth Fresnel zone is bounded by an ellipsoid, where

the Tx-Rx-path is N half wavelengths longer than d FN  dT  d R  N  l 2
the direct Tx-Rx-path dT + dR between Tx and Rx
rF1
Tx Rx
dT dR
1st Fresnel ellipsoid

Nth Fresnel ellipsoid
Radius of Nth Fresnel ellipsoid
and Electronics
When to Neglect the Knife Edge Diffraction?
Relate Fresnel radius RFN with diffraction parameter :
-1
If the knife edge does not extend into 1st Fresnel

zone, then the error compared to free space
propagation is less than 1.1 dB:
If the knife edge does not extend into the 1st Fresnel zone,
then knife edge diffraction can be neglected
and Electronics
Fresnel Ellipsoids: Example
Tx Rx
dT dR
RF1
dT+dR+l0/2
and Electronics
Scattering
Scattering of Incident Energy on Rough Surfaces
and Electronics
Different Types of Scattering
point scattering distributed scattering
Simple targets
(plate, sphere, rough surface scattering volume scattering
cylinder, etc.)
and Electronics
From Specular Reflection to Incoherent Scattering
specular reflection coherent scattering diffuse scattering
Roughness criteria:
Roughness paremeter:
sh: RMS height l0
i s Rayleigh: sh 
L: correlation length 8cos i
L l0
sh
Fraunhofer: sh 
32cosi

48 12.11.2018 Chapter 2: Radio Wave Propagation Fundamentals  Institute of Radio Frequency Engineering
and Electronics
Multipath Propagation
Combination of all Wave Propagation Effects
and Electronics
Propagation Phenomena
refraction reflection
zT zR
path N
diffraction
transmitter Q QRi receiver

Ti path i
yT xR
yTi yRi
xT path 1
yR
scattering
reflection: scattering:
free space - plane wave reflection - rough surface scattering
propagation: - Fresnel coefficients - volume scattering
- line of sight
- no multipath diffraction: refraction in the
troposphere:
- knife edge diffraction - not considered
In general multipath propagation leads to fading at the receiver site
and Electronics
Path Loss Prediction over Natural Terrain
70 dB 80 m
height
•
path loss
f = 435 MHz
16.4 m
150 dB
0m
7.95 km
• Tx height = 16.4 m
0 km distance
• vertical polarization
80 dB 80 m
height
path loss
• f = 1900 MHz
16.4 m
0m
160 dB 0 km distance 7.95 km
and Electronics

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Chapter 2:

Radio Wave Propagation Fundamentals

INSTITUTE OF RADIO FREQUENCY ENGINEERING AND ELECTRONICS

KIT – The Research University in the Helmholtz Association www.ihe.kit.edu

of modulated signals demodulation

transmitter Q QRi receiver

In general multipath propagation leads to fading at the receiver site

Propagation models (PM) are being used to predict:

Severe multipath conditions in

Free Space Propagation

Received power: Power density at Rx site: Antenna effective area:

Friis free space equation:

Isotropic path loss (no antenna gains):

Orientation of Field Vectors and Reference Planes

Every elliptically polarized EM wave can be decomposed

Elliptical Circular Linear

Plane of incidence: formed by the

Polarization (E-field vector) with Polarization (E-field vector) with

Fresnel coefficients are frequency

Angle, where no reflection occurs is Brewster’s Angle:

Air (less dense)

Operation principle of Brewster window:

Microwave gyrotron Brewster window

When does the total internal reflection appears? n sin   n sin 

 a ray must strike the medium’s boundary

Increasing the incidence angle

Rain sensor in the rear view mirror

Parallel Pol – Air to Glass Parallel Pol – Glass to Air

Perpendicular Pol – Air to Glass Perpendicular Pol – Glass to Air

Perfect Electric Conductor (PEC)

 Etan  Etan, i  Etan, r  0

Plane of incidence Eyi

PEC reflection: Hxr Hr

Buoy with dihedral

Radar image with corner reflectors

Two-Ray model is based on geometrical optics and predicts large-scale fading

Assumptions in two-ray model:

perpendicular polarization parallel polarization

f = 900 MHz f = 4 GHz

distances of notches >> l

Diffraction on Absorbing Half-Plates

 obstacle: semi-infinite, infinitely thin, absorbing plate

Assumptions in knife edge model:

diffraction loss increases with frequency

transmitter height = obstacle height

Nth Fresnel zone is bounded by an ellipsoid, where

1st Fresnel ellipsoid

Radius of Nth Fresnel ellipsoid

Relate Fresnel radius RFN with diffraction parameter :

If the knife edge does not extend into 1st Fresnel

Scattering of Incident Energy on Rough Surfaces

point scattering distributed scattering

specular reflection coherent scattering diffuse scattering

Combination of all Wave Propagation Effects

transmitter Q QRi receiver

In general multipath propagation leads to fading at the receiver site

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