ENT-256 ELECTROMAGNETIC APPLICATIONS Summer 2023/2024

Transmission Line - Coaxial Line Parameters

Objective:
Study the coaxial line parameters, Characteristic Impedance, propagation constant for (lossy,
lossless, distortion less) lines using simulator.

Theory:
Transmission line is an electrical line which is used to transmit electrical waves from one
point to another and to connect a source to a load. Transmission line that consists of two or
more conductors may support transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waves in which E and H are
perpendicular to each other and both are transverse to the direction of propagation along the
guiding line. TEM waves have uniquely defined voltage, current, and characteristic
impedance.

 The representing each section of Transmission line by an equivalent circuit, as

illustrated in the Figure.

 This representation consists of four basic elements, with values that henceforth will be called the
transmission line parameters.
'
R : The combined resistance of both conductors per unit length, in Ω/m.
'
L : The combined inductance of both conductors per unit length, in H/m.
'
G : The conductance of the insulation medium between the two conductors per unit
length, in S/m.
'
C : The capacitance of the two conductors per unit length, in F/m.

 The three most common types of guiding structures that support TEM waves are:
o Parallel-plate transmission line
o Two-wire transmission line.
o Coaxial transmission line.

Coaxial transmission line

Coaxial transmission lines consists of metallic inner and outer conductors separated by a spacer
material as shown in Figure. The spacer material is typically a low-loss dielectric material having
permeability approximately equal to that of free space (μ ≈ μ 0) and permittivity ε s that may range
from very near ε o (e.g., air-filled line) to 2–3 times ε o. The outer conductor is alternatively referred to
as the “shield,” since it typically provides a high degree of isolation from nearby objects and
electromagnetic fields.

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ENT-256 ELECTROMAGNETIC APPLICATIONS Summer 2023/2024

 Expressions for the equivalent circuit parameters R' , L' , G ' , and C 'for coaxial lines can be
obtained from basic electromagnetic theory.
√ πf μc /σ c
R' =
2π ( 1a + 1b ) Ω/m
' μ
L= ln ( b/a ) H/m
2π
' 2 πσ
G= S/m
ln ( b /a )
' 2 πε
C= F/m
ln ( b/a )
Note:
1
o The skin depth of the conductor δ=
√ πf μc σ c
o For each line, the conductors are characterized by σ c , μc , ε c and the homogeneous
dielectric separating the conductors is characterized byσ , μ , ε .
' ' '
o G ≠ 1/ R ; R is the resistance per unit length of the conductors comprising the line, and
'
G is the conductance per unit length due to the dielectric medium separating the
conductors.
o For each line
 L' C ' =με
'
G σ
 '
=
C ε
 The character impedance of coaxial lines can be written in:

Z o=
√ R ' + jω L'
'
G + jωC
'
=R o+ j X o (in ohms)

γ =α + jβ=√ ( R + jω L )( G + jωC )
' ' ' '

And γ is the propagation constant (per meter), α is the attenuation constant (in Np/m), and β
is the phase constant (in radians per meter). The wavelength λ and wave velocity u are,
respectively, given by
2π
λ=
β
ω 1
u= =fλ=
β √ με

Lossless Line ( R' =G' =0¿

 A transmission line is said to be lossless if the conductor of the transmission lines are
perfect¿ ¿) and the dielectric medium separating them is lossless (σ ≈ 0 ).
 For such line,
' '
R =G =0
This results in;
α =0 , γ = jβ= jω √ L' C '

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ENT-256 ELECTROMAGNETIC APPLICATIONS Summer 2023/2024

ω 1
u p = = ' ' =fλ
β √L C

√
'
L
X o=0 , Z o =Ro= '
C

Distortionless Line
 A signal normally consists of a band of frequencies; wave amplitudes of different
frequency components will be attenuated differently in a lossy line because α is
frequency dependent. This results in distortion.
 A distortionless line is one in which the attenuation constant α is frequency independent
while the phase constant β is linearly dependent on frequency.
 For such a line:
' '
R G
'
= '
L C
Thus for the distortionless line,

√ ( )( )
' '
' ' jω L jω C
γ = R G 1+ '
1+ '
R G

( )
'
jω C
¿ √ R G 1+
' '
'
=α + jβ
G
α =√ R' G ' , β=ω √ L' C '
Showing that α does not depend on frequency, whereas β is a linear function of
frequency. Also;

√
' jω L'
R (1+ )

√ √
' ' '
R R L
Z o= '
= '
= '
' jω C G C
G (1+ )
G'

R
Ro =
G
=
X o=0
L
C √ √
ω 1
up= = =fλ
β √ LC

Experiment Setup Instructions:

Calculate coaxial line parameters, Characteristic Impedance, propagation constant for (lossy,
lossless, distortion less) lines using simulator.
1. Go to the following website:
https://em7e.eecs.umich.edu/ulaby_modules_choice.html
https://em8e.eecs.umich.edu/jsmodules/ch2/mod2_2.html

2. Download 2.2 Coaxial Cable, then Open the file.

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ENT-256 ELECTROMAGNETIC APPLICATIONS Summer 2023/2024

3. The coaxial line parameters can be computed within the simulator. First, set the Physical
parameters (a∧b ), σ c, σ , ε and the frequency. Then, the simulator calculates R' , L' , G' ,
and C '.
A. Lossy Transmission line
Find the line parameters at 1 GHz of a coaxial line with inner and outer conductor diameters of
0.5 cm and 1 cm, respectively, is filled with an insulating material with ε r = 4.5 and σ = 10−3
7
S/m. The conductors are made of copper σ c =5.8 ×10 S/m.
a. Using the simulator calculator
' ' ' '
R =¿ L =G =C =¿
Z o=α =β= λ=¿

Insert the Figure of line parameters

b. Calculate the line parameters.

c. Compare the calculated results and with those based on the simulator.

B. Lossless Transmission line

Find the line parameters at 1 GHz of a lossless coaxial line with inner and outer conductor
diameters of 0.5 cm and 1 cm, respectively, is filled with an insulating material with ε r = 4.5 and
σ = _________S/m. The conductors are made of copperσ c =¿ ¿ S/m.
a. Using the simulator calculator
' ' ' '
R =¿ L =G =C =¿
Z o=α =β= λ=¿

Insert the Figure of line parameters

b. Calculate the line parameters.
c. Compare the calculated results and with those based on the simulator.

For such a lossless line, R' =G' =¿ ¿, α =¿ ¿ , and X o=¿ .

C. Distortionless Transmission line

Find the line parameters at 100 MHz of a lossless coaxial line with inner and outer conductor
diameters of 2 cm and 10.6 cm, respectively, is filled with an insulating material with ε r = 2.78
6
and σ =8.75 ×10−5 S/m. The conductors are made of copperσ c =2.54 ×10 S/m.
a. Using the simulator calculator
' ' ' '
R =¿ L =G =C =¿
Z o=α =β= λ=¿

Insert the Figure of line parameters

b. Calculate the line parameters.

c. Compare the calculated results and with those based on the simulator.

' '
R G
For such a distortionless line, '
= ' =¿ ¿, and X o=¿ .
L C

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ENT-256 ELECTROMAGNETIC APPLICATIONS Summer 2023/2024

Conclusions:
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