Analysis of microstrip antennas on a curved surface using the conformal grids FD-TD method

Rectangular microstrip antennas (MSAs) mounted on a curved surface are analyzed using the curvilinear FDTD (finite-difference time-domain) method. In this analysis, the cylindrical surface is given exclusive consideration, as construction of a physical model for comparison is simple. The calculated results were compared with experimental results, and the degree of agreement appears to confirm the validity of the method and the predictions. The results for MSAs on curved surfaces are compared with those for planar MSAs. It was shown that the properties of the input impedance and directivity vary somewhat from those of the flat antenna due to bending. The curvilinear FDTD method seems to hold great promise for use in CAD (computer-aided design) systems in conjunction with mesh generators. >