Performance prediction for array antennas with element position error based on coupled structural-electromagnetic model

The realistic array antennas are inevitably susceptible to mechanical manufacturing errors, external loads and high thermal difference, which result in the unexpected notable degradation of electromagnetic performances with the corresponding element position error, seriously restrict the development of high-performance array antenna. The element position error include random error and systematic error, and both are correlated. In this paper, an statistical analysis method based on the coupled structural-electromagnetic model of array antenna and Monte Carlo method is proposed to predict the combined impact of random error and systematic error on antenna performance. With the application of the proposed approach, the statistical properties of antenna performance are predicted. Furthermore, the critical value which random error can be ignored in the presence of random error and systematic error is obtained.