Gain Augmentation of a Triple Notched Ultra-wideband Antenna using Compact Uniplanar Frequency Selective Surface for Ground Penetrating Radar

Abstract

A simple structured, compact ultra-wideband (UWB) circular disk monopole antenna of dimension 35 × 30 × 0.8 mm³ that offers wide bandwidth from 2.64 to 9.36 GHz with sharp triple notch bands at 3.28–3.84, 5.08–5.44, and 5.62–6.06 GHz is integrated to the single-layer UWB frequency selective surface (FSS) that has unit cell dimension of 0.1136λ_L × 0.1136λ_L only where λ_L signifies the lower band-edge of UWB. Sharp triple notches are employed by embedding split-ring slot on circular patch and implanting dual circular split-ring resonator pairs at the backside of feed. Addition of FSS layer does not affect the antenna impedance band and offers significant antenna gain improvement by 2–4 dBi in the pass bandwidth with maximum gain of 8 dBi at 8.5 GHz. The antenna also provides high average radiation efficiency of 80%, improved radiation in the broadside direction and consistent group delay response in its pass band when integrated to the FSS layer. Working capability of proposed antenna-FSS structure is evaluated in proximity of soil test bed by keeping thin aluminum sheet at different buried levels. Adequate VSWR profile, linear transfer function response, and consistent group delay response in pass band ensure the eligibility of proposed antenna to work for ground penetrating radar.

KEYWORDS:

• Circular monopole antenna
• Co-planar waveguide (CPW) feed
• Frequency selective surface (FSS)
• Gain improvement
• Ground penetrating radar (GPR)
• Printed antenna
• Ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Surajit Kundu

Surajit Kundu received his BTech degree in ECE from Academy of Technology, West Bengal University of Technology, India in 2009, MTech degree from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in 2012 and PhD degree from National Institute of Technology Sikkim, India in 2018. Presently, he is serving as assistant professor in the Department of ECE, NIT Sikkim. He has published 32 research papers in referred journals and conference proceedings. His research interest includes antenna design, ultra-wideband communication, frequency selective surfaces, satellite communication & navigation and ground penetrating radar. He received “Young Indian Radio Scientist” award from URSI-InRaSS in AP-RASC 2019.