Axial Ratio Research Articles

A new method for synthesis and designing transmissive linear-to-circular polarization converters based on branch line circuit model

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a new design method of a linear-to-circular polarization converter based on the branch line circuit model. The series branches are implemented by dielectric spacers and the shunt branches are implemented by anisotropic admittance sheets. The admittance matrix of the anisotropic admittance sheets is derived by even and odd mode analysis. A unit cell consisting of two metal layers and a dielectric spacer is then designed using an iterative algorithm for operation from 15.5 to 23 GHz. Results indicate that the axial ratio and insertion loss of the designed polarizer are better than 3 and 1.5 dB respectively, for incident angles between ±45°. To validate the simulation results, a waveguide-based test setup is designed and fabricated, with measurement results indicating good agreement with simulations. The proposed method can be potentially applied to design other anisotropic structures such as half-plate polarizers and polarization rotators.

A metasurface-based high gain circularly polarized patch antenna with wide global bandwidth

This paper introduces a novel metasurface (MS)-based circularly polarized (CP) microstrip patch antenna. Utilizing a square microstrip patch with plus- and diagonal-shaped slots on a 1.6 mm thick FR-4 substrate as the host antenna, the design incorporates a 4 × 4 square array MS on another 1.6 mm thick FR-4 substrate, separated by a 3.4 mm thick Teflon layer. The antenna offers a −10-dB impedance bandwidth from 5.45 to 7.55 GHz and an axial ratio (AR) bandwidth between 6.02 and 6.35 GHz, achieving a maximum realized gain of 6.3 dBic at 6.25 GHz, exhibiting right-handed circular polarization (RHCP). An equivalent circuit model is developed to validate impedance response, and the fabricated antenna closely matches simulated results. With a low profile of 0.42 λ o × 0.42 λ o × 0.033 λ o at 6.25 GHz, this CP antenna is suitable for applications like satellite communication for their uplinks and WLAN application.

A High-Gain circularly polarized magnetoelectric dipole antenna array with metallic radiating structure for Millimeter-Wave applications

A high-gain circularly polarized (CP) magnetoelectric (ME) dipole antenna with metallic radiating structure is presented. The proposed CP antenna element consists of two pairs of metallic posts with a supporting metallic plate, a metallic air-filled elliptical cavity, and a feeding slot on the bottom substrate integrated waveguide (SIW). The two pairs of modified rectangular metallic posts combined with the gaps between them act as radiating ME-dipoles which are surrounded by a metallic air-filled elliptical cavity. The above-mentioned radiating structures are fed by a modified cross-shaped coupling slot etched on the bottom feeding SIW to generate CP radiation, where loading the elliptical metallic cavity significantly improve the CP performance of the antenna element. Then, a 4 × 4 antenna array with full-corporate feeding network is designed, fabricated, and measured, which has an impedance bandwidth of 18.9 % from 37.4 to 45.2 GHz and a 3-dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of 14.2 % from 36 to 41.5 GHz. Thanks to the all-metal radiating structures, a maximum measured gain of 20.4 dBic has been achieved. The measured and simulated results are in good agreement.

The satellite galaxy plane of NGC 4490 in light of Lambda CDM. Sparsity of similarly extreme analogs and a possible role of satellite pairs

The system of galaxies around NGC\,4490 was recently highlighted to display a flattened, kinematically correlated structure reminiscent of planes of satellite galaxies around other hosts. Since known satellite planes are in tension with expectations from cosmological simulations in the Lambda Cold Dark Matter (Lambda CDM) model, we aim to quantitatively assess for the first time the tension posed by the NGC\,4490 system. We measured the on-sky flattening as the major-to-minor axis ratio $b/a$\ of the satellite distribution and their line-of-sight kinematic correlation. Analogs to the system were selected in the TNG50 simulation and their flattening and correlation were similarly measured. We confirm the strong kinematic coherence of all 12 observed satellite objects with available line-of-sight velocities (of 14 in total): the northern ones approach and the southern ones recede relative to the host. The spatial distribution of all 14 objects is substantially flattened with $b/a = 0.38$\ (0.26 considering only the 12 objects with available velocities). Such extreme arrangements are rare in the Lambda CDM simulation, at a level of 0.21 to 0.35<!PCT!>. This fraction of analogs would drop further if at least one of the two satellite objects without velocities is confirmed to follow the kinematic trend, and would become zero if both are rejected as non-members. We also identify a likely galaxy pair in the observed system, and find a similar pair in the best-matching simulated analog. Our measurements establish NGC\,4490 as another strong example of a satellite plane in the Local Volume. This emphasizes that planes of satellites are a more general issue faced by Lambda CDM also beyond the Local Group. The tension with typical systems drawn from simulations suggests that the observed one requires a specific formation scenario, potentially connected to the larger-scale galaxy alignment in its vicinity. The presence of galaxy pairs in the observed and a simulated system hints at the importance such groupings may have to understand satellite planes.

Self-centering concrete-filled steel tubular column-steel beam joint: Experiment and numerical modeling

This paper studied the seismic behavior of a novel self-centering concrete-filled steel tubular column-steel beam (SCSTCSB) joint. The restoring force was provided by the post-tensioned tendons arranged in the CFST columns. Cyclic loading tests were performed on five 1/3 scaled specimens by varying the parameters of steel tendon type, concrete strength (fc), and axial compression ratio (n). The failure modes, hysteresis behavior, stiffness and strength degradation, energy dissipation, post-tensioned tendons response, residual deformation, and strain distribution were studied in detail. The finite element models were established to capture the stress distribution of the joints. In addition, parameter analysis was performed by expanding 17 finite element models. The results show that the ratio of residual deformation to beam rotation angle of the specimens ranged from 0.068 to 0.172. And the proposed joints demonstrated excellent self-centering ability. The self-centering (SC) performance of joints with ordinary steel tendons was better than that of joints with high-strength steel tendons. With the increase of n, the SC performance of the joints intensified at the lower ratio (n from 0.1 to 0.3) and weakened after n = 0.3. The flexural capacity of the joints improved with the increase of axial compression ratio (n), width-thickness ratio (D/t), diameter of steel tendons (d), and assembly part strength (fy,a).

Tri-band antenna with metasurface-based ground plane for Sub-6 GHz 5G and 6G WPT applications

In this paper, a spiral-shaped metamaterial-loaded rhombic slotted microstrip patch antenna is investigated for Sub-6 GHz 5G and 6 GHz tri-band applications. A 1.524 mm thick Rogers RO4003 substrate (ϵr = 3.55, LosTanδ = 0.0027) opts for the antenna design. A partially grounded mechanism is implemented to control the operating frequencies of the antenna. A 5×5 triangular unit cell metasurface is deposited beside the partial ground plane to enhance the impedance bandwidth as well as to improve the impedance matching. A G-shaped metallic structure enclosed within the rhombic slotted antenna helps in creating circular polarization (CP) properties. The presented antenna resonates at 3.28 GHz (Mid-range Sub 6 GHz 5G band), 4.94 GHz (Upper range Sub 6 GHz 5G band), and 6.92 GHz (Sub 6 GHz 6G Band) frequencies. The maximum gain offered by the antenna is 8.81 dBi. Also, the developed antenna offers CP characteristics in all three operating bands with wide axial ratio (AR) bandwidth characteristics above 400 MHz in both the first and third operating bands. The radial characteristics of the proposed antenna show its capability of receiving EM signals from all directions as desired for a WPT system. For validation purposes, a prototype is fabricated and characterized as well.

Research on seismic performance of prefabricated composite shear wall with end steel plate connection

Chinese construction industry is gradually transforming to industrialization, which promotes the development of prefabricated buildings. As an efficient lateral force resisting system, prefabricated steel-plate concrete composite shear wall structure has become a research hotspot in the field of architecture at home and abroad. Based on the mechanical characteristics of the shear wall, this paper proposes a end steel plate connection prefabricated composite shear wall structure. Through numerical simulation and analysis of the prefabricated composite shear wall with different connection areas and the cast-in-place composite shear wall, which verified the feasibility and reliability of end steel plate connection. Based on the above verification, the influence of different parameters on the seismic performance of the prefabricated composite shear wall with end steel plate connection has been further studied, and the theoretical calculation of bearing capacity is carried out. The results show that the length of the connector should be controlled within a reasonable range. The tie bars in the node connection area can improve the strength and ductility of the prefabricated composite shear wall. The aspect ratio and axial pressure ratio have obvious influence on the seismic performance of the wall, which should be reasonably selected in design.

Directive multiple beams from linear-to-circular polarized reflectarray antenna

We demonstrate the design of a highly directive circularly polarized planar reflectarray in this paper, with efficient polarization conversion from the linearly polarized excitation to the circularly polarized radiations based on a novel Jerusalem like cross loaded C-shaped open loop and circular patch anisotropic metasurface. The full-wave simulation results clearly show that circularly polarized plane waves could be generated by the proposed anisotropic metasurface after the linearly polarized incident waves emitted from the horn feed antenna at 15 GHz. Finally, we fabricate the proposed reflectarray antenna, and demonstrate the perfect generation of triple circularly polarized beams with the axial ratio of these beams all less than 2 dB, and an average gain of 22.4 dBic.

Circularly Polarized 4 × 4 Array Antenna with a Wide Axial Ratio Bandwidth

Circularly Polarized 4 × 4 Array Antenna with a Wide Axial Ratio Bandwidth

Experimental and statistical study on sound absorption coefficient of porous asphalt concrete considering mesoscopic pore parameters

Porous asphalt concrete (PAC) has attracted significant attention in the road industry due to its excellent noise reduction capabilities. However, clogging in PAC decreases its sound absorption performance, as mesoscopic pore parameters play a crucial role in influencing PAC’s sound absorption abilities. To further investigate the influence of mesoscopic pore parameters on the sound absorption performance of PAC, CT scanning and digital image processing technology were employed. The principal component analysis method was employed to determine the weighting of the influence of mesoscopic pore parameters on the sound absorption coefficient. The correlation between different pore parameters and the sound absorption coefficient of PAC specimens was analyzed. The results showed that the minimum Feret diameter has the most significant effect on the sound absorption performance of PAC, while the concavity and the length-short axis ratio have the least impact. The correlation between mesoscopic pore parameters and sound absorption coefficients was found to be inconsistent before and after clogging. Mesoscopic pore parameters that were positively correlated with sound absorption coefficients before clogging turned negatively correlated after clogging. Connected large pores and smooth regular pore structure enhance the sound absorption performance of PAC, but clogging disrupts this structure, resulting in a decrease in sound absorption performance.

Stub Asymmetry-Enabled Self-Phase-Shift Circularly Polarized Antenna under Dual-Mode Resonance

In this article, a novel design approach to wideband dual-mode resonant circularly polarized (CP) antenna is advanced. An analytical design approach with low complexity as supported by a set of closed-form formulas is presented. Thus, the wideband dual-mode CP characteristics can be forward predicted and simply realized by incorporating stub asymmetry-enabled self-phase-shift dipoles and unequal feeding branches. At first, stubs are employed to broaden the impedance bandwidth by simultaneously exciting dual resonant modes. Then, the phase quadrature and equal magnitude conditions for wideband CP can be automatically realized by incorporating unequal Y-shaped microstrip branches and asymmetric slotline stubs. Finally, the coincidence between the simulated and measured results of the fabricated prototype antenna further confirms the feasibility of the design approach. It is shown that the presented antenna can exhibit an impedance bandwidth of 20.1% and a 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 16.3% in the boresight direction.

Circularly polarized dielectric resonator based MIMO antenna for sub-6 GHz 5G cognitive radio applications

A 2-port wideband circular polarized (CP) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) integrated with cognitive radio (CR) application is designed and investigated. This is a novel concept of integrating wideband CP-MIMO antenna based on dielectric resonator (DR), with CR concept. The multi-functional reconfigurable filter is designed within the feedline of the antenna making it applicable for both the operations of CR, namely, underlay and interweave. Rogers RT Duroid 5880 is used as the substrate for the designed CP-MIMO antenna. The antenna shows wide Axial Ratio (AR) bandwidth of 48.14% (2.2–3.50 GHz) and an overlapping bandwidth of 41.85% (2.37–3.50 GHz). The DR based MIMO antenna shows sensing range of 2.37–3.66 GHz. For the interweave operation, the designed CP-MIMO antenna shows narrowband frequency reconfigurability from 2.45–2.83 GHz. For the underlay case, the designed antenna shows band notch tunability between 3.23–3.62 GHz. The proposed antenna can be used effectively in sub-6 GHz band of the 5G communication systems.

Automatic segmentation of 15 critical anatomical labels and measurements of cardiac axis and cardiothoracic ratio in fetal four chambers using nnU-NetV2

BackgroundAccurate segmentation of critical anatomical structures in fetal four-chamber view images is essential for the early detection of congenital heart defects. Current prenatal screening methods rely on manual measurements, which are time-consuming and prone to inter-observer variability. This study develops an AI-based model using the state-of-the-art nnU-NetV2 architecture for automatic segmentation and measurement of key anatomical structures in fetal four-chamber view images.MethodsA dataset, consisting of 1,083 high-quality fetal four-chamber view images, was annotated with 15 critical anatomical labels and divided into training/validation (867 images) and test (216 images) sets. An AI-based model using the nnU-NetV2 architecture was trained on the annotated images and evaluated using the mean Dice coefficient (mDice) and mean intersection over union (mIoU) metrics. The model’s performance in automatically computing the cardiac axis (CAx) and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) was compared with measurements from sonographers with varying levels of experience.ResultsThe AI-based model achieved a mDice coefficient of 87.11% and an mIoU of 77.68% for the segmentation of critical anatomical structures. The model’s automated CAx and CTR measurements showed strong agreement with those of experienced sonographers, with respective intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of 0.83 and 0.81. Bland–Altman analysis further confirmed the high agreement between the model and experienced sonographers.ConclusionWe developed an AI-based model using the nnU-NetV2 architecture for accurate segmentation and automated measurement of critical anatomical structures in fetal four-chamber view images. Our model demonstrated high segmentation accuracy and strong agreement with experienced sonographers in computing clinically relevant parameters. This approach has the potential to improve the efficiency and reliability of prenatal cardiac screening, ultimately contributing to the early detection of congenital heart defects.

Metasurface Loaded Ceramic based MIMO Antenna with Improved Gain and Circular Polarization Characteristics

Abstract In this communication, the conceptualization involves the design of a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) (dual-port) ring dielectric resonator antenna and the integration of a meta-surface onto this configuration. It introduces three distinctive attributes, which characterize the novelty of the proposed design: (a) facilitates the conversion of linearly polarized waves into circularly polarized counterparts; (b) contributes to a substantial enhancement in gain in between the working band; and (c) there is notable improvement in the isolation between the antenna ports to more than 25 dB. The experimental measurements validate the simulated results of proposed design and confirms its applicability in between 2.45–3.0 GHz. Notably, a 3-dB axial ratio is created in the frequency span of 2.56-2.99 GHz, along with an impressive gain of approximately 8.3 dBi. Its consistent radiation pattern and excellent diversity performance make it suitable for WiMAX (2.6 GHz) use.

An Ultra High Frequency Radio Frequency Identification Compatible Circular Polarized Microstrip Antenna Array

This study focuses on the development, simulation, and practical validation of a metal-only microstrip patch antenna and its array designed to increase gain. The antenna is specifically designed to meet the growing demand for reliable and efficient RFID systems in various fields, such as asset tracking, inventory management, and smart logistics. Our design utilizes a truncated patch with an air substrate to achieve high gain and circular polarization. The antenna's dimensions measure 468 × 188 × 31 mm³ and deliver impressive performance metrics, boasting a return loss |S11| of -18.21 dB and an estimated gain exceeding 10.6 dBi. These figures compare favorably with the simulated results, which indicate an |S11| of -20.8 dB and a total gain of 11.2 dBi. Our microstrip antenna array demonstrated consistent Circular Polarization quality throughout the radiation angle, with an Axial Ratio of less than 3 dB. This antenna has emerged as a compelling solution for UHF-band RFID technology to meet the demands of various real-world applications.

Seismic performance of external diaphragm joints of steel beam-to-CFST column encasing fiber reinforced polymer confined UHPC core

A novel composite column was introduced by integrating a concrete-filled steel tube column encasing a Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) confined ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) core. In this paper, the seismic performance of four SCF-UHPC composite column-to-steel beam connections using external diaphragm joints was experimentally investigated under the quasi-static test. All specimens failed due to the formation of plastic hinges at the beams and the tearing failure on the beam flanges at the plastic hinge zone. The local buckling at the column end and the panel zone was observed for the specimens receiving the higher axial compression ratio. The increase of FRP tube thickness is more effective in improving the ductility and energy dissipation capacity of the joints than increasing the UHPC core diameter. On the contrary, increasing the UHPC core diameter led to better resistance to the shear deformation of the panel zone. The proportion of shear deformation to the total deformation of the panel zone and the strain distributions were investigated to determine the effect of each component. The composite column in the panel zone mainly carried the compression-bending effort, and the external diaphragm mainly took the shear effort. All joints were eventually classified as semi-rigid type joints, according to the initial rotational stiffness.

Numerical analysis on seismic behavior of a novel steel-timber composite frame column

Steel-timber composite structures are a novel hybrid structural system that combines the advantages of both steel and wood structures, holding great promise for various applications. In this paper, the seismic behaviors of steel- timber composite columns are investigated based on finite element analysis. The reliability of the finite element model is validated by quasi-static test results. Numerical analysis results indicate that the proposed steel- timber composite systems is with high ultimate bearing capacity, full hysteresis loops, and strong displacement ductility, demonstrating excellent seismic performance. The axial compression ratio, steel tube thickness, and flexural point height significantly influence the seismic resistance of the structure.

Seismic behavior of double-cell CFST columns with table tennis racket-shaped cross section

Multicell concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns with excellent mechanical performance have been used in super high-rise buildings in recent years. According to the requirements of a 265-m tall building, the double-cell CFST columns with an innovative cross section of table tennis racket were applied. Hence, six columns were designed according to the prototype columns and subjected to low-frequency cyclic loading. The impacts of different shear-span ratios (SSRs), axial load ratios (ALRs), and steel ratios on the seismic behavior were elaborated and clarified. The test results indicated that the seismic performance varied in different loading directions owing to the asymmetric cross section, and the columns performed better in the positive loading direction resulted from earlier and more sufficient confinement of the circular steel tube, which was also reflected by the measured strain development. With SSR deceasing from 2.5 to 1.7, earlier and more severe damage was recorded. The resisting capacity and stiffness were significantly improved at a cost of ductility loss. Increasing ALR from 0.2 to 0.4 brought about more damage and worse deformability. However, a proper increase in axial load was beneficial to the resisting capacity and stiffness, and its influence on the restoration capacity was associated with SSR. Increasing the steel ratio (by 33.36%) could effectively postpone and alleviate the local buckling of steel tube, thereby comprehensively improving the seismic performance. A finite element (FE) analysis of such columns was performed to carry out the damage evolution and parametric study, and provide references for their application in practical engineering.

A Simultaneous Study on Wire-Loop, Plate-Loop, and Plate Antennas for Wideband Circular Polarization

We investigate three square-shaped antennas to increase the bandwidth of circular polarization. Each antenna has two adjacent corners excited with the same amplitudes and a phase difference of 90° using a branched feedline vertical to the ground plane. We evaluate the 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth as a function of the loop-arm width using the moment method. It is found that the axial ratio bandwidth reaches 38% for an arm width of 0.04 wavelengths, wider than that of a wire-loop antenna by a factor of three. The simulated results are verified by experimental ones.

Design of a 3-Bit Circularly Polarized Reconfigurable Reflectarray

In this paper, a 3-bit circularly polarized reconfigurable reflectarray is proposed. The array consists of 64 units in an 8 × 8 configuration, with each unit containing a circular metal patch loaded with phase-delay lines and eight PIN diodes. To independently control each unit, a corresponding DC control circuit was designed and tested with the array. In the bandwidth of 3.43–3.71 GHz, the circularly polarized reconfigurable reflectarray achieved a gain of 16 dB, an aperture efficiency of 27%, an axial ratio of ≤3 dB, an operating bandwidth of 8%, and a beam scanning range of ±60°. The circularly polarized reconfigurable reflectarray can also achieve a good dual-beam radiation performance after testing. The 3-bit circularly polarized reconfigurable reflectarray proposed in this paper offers several advantages, including low loss, high aperture efficiency, a wide beam scanning range, and excellent stability in wide-angle oblique incidence. It has potential applications in low-cost phased array, satellite communications, and deep space exploration.