1

Transmission Line THEORY:

• tx line model
 Introduction 2

➢ In the microwave frequency region, power is considered to be in electric and magnetic

fields that are guided from place to place by some physical structure.

➢ Any physical structure that will guide an electromagnetic wave place is called a
Transmission Line

➢ Transmission lines are used in power distribution (at low frequencies), and in
communications (at high frequencies).
➢ A transmission line consists of two or more parallel conductors used to connect a
source to a load., the source may be a generator, a transmitter, or an oscillator and the
load may be a factory, an antenna, or an oscilloscope, respectively.
➢ Transmission lines include two wires line, parallel plate, coaxial cable, planar lines:
micro-strip line
3
 4
er
h
w

Stripline
Coaxial cable

er h

Microtripline Waveguide Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW)

Two Conductors Transmission Line Theory 7
➢ The uniform two-conductor transmission line is an essential element in the
realization of many transmission line circuits.
➢ To understand the behavior of transmission line, two-port network is
modeled which is shown in Fig. 1 below.

4 per-unit-length parameters:
C = capacitance/length [F/m]
Fig. 1. Two port network of transmission line L = inductance/length [H/m]
R = resistance/length [/m] Δz
G = conductance/length [ /m or S/m]
 8
➢ This network is assumed to be linear and the ports to be interchangeable.
➢ When there is no reflection, the complex voltage across both the ports (Port A and
Port B) is proportional to the complex current flowing into it If the transmission
line is considered to be uniform along its length, then the behavior is described by
its characteristic impedance (Z0).
➢ That is, the ratio of the complex voltage of a given wave to the complex current of
the same wave at any point on the line, given by equation (1).
➢ The characteristic impedance (Z0) of coaxial cable is typically 50 Ω or 75Ω. 100Ω
for a twisted pair transmission line, and 300Ω for commonly used untwisted pair
radio transmission lines
 9

➢ For perfect transmission of power through a transmission line (i.e., maximum power
absorbed by the load and very little reflected back to the source), it is important to have
perfect impedance matching between the load impedance (ZL) and characteristic
impedance (Z0) of the line.
➢ In matching condition, some of the power is lost due to the resistance of the transmission
line, which is also known as ohmic or resistive loss.
➢ At high frequencies, along with ohmic or resistive losses, dielectric loss comes into
account, which is caused when the insulating material inside the transmission line absorbs
energy from alternating electric field and releases it in the form of heat.
 ❖ TRANSMISSION LINE MODEL 10
➢ The ratio of voltage applied to the current is called the input impedance (ZIN); the input
impedance of the infinite line is called the characteristic impedance (Z0).
➢ The general expression for the characteristic impedance (Z0) of a transmission line, using
telegraphic equation is give by equation (2a).

➢ Where, R = Resistance per unit length, L= Inductance per unit length, G = Conductance of
the dielectric per unit length, C = Capacitance per unit length, j = Imaginary unit, and
ω = Angular frequency.
➢ Propagation constant ( g) is given by equation (2b).
 11

➢ The real part of is called the attenuation constant ( a), its units are in Np per unit length.
The imaginary part of is called the phase constant ( b), which describes the variation in
phase of the travelling wave; its units are radians per unit length. Fig. 1.1.2(b), shows the
wavelength between two points are separated by 2π radians.
➢ Hence
 12

(a) Schematic representation of the

elementary components of a transmission
line,

(b) Variation in phase of travelling wave.

➢ Basic Transmission Line Theory
14
i ( z, t )

B x x x +++++++
----------
v ( z, t )

z

Equivalent Circuit of Transmission Line

i(z, t) Rz Lz i(z+z, t)

+ +
v(z, t) Gz Cz v(z+z, t)
- -
z
i(z, t) Rz Lz i(z+z, t)
+ + 15
v(z, t) G z Cz v(z+z, t)

- - z

(1)

Hence,

(2)

And
(3)

Hence,
(4)
Now let us apply z → 0 to eq (2) and (4):
16
v i
= − Ri − L (5)
z t
Telegrapher’s Equations
i v
= − Gv − C (6)
z t

Take the derivative of eq (5) with respect to z:

Switch the order of the derivatives.

(7)
 Substitute eq (6) in eq (7) and simplify: 17

v2
 v   v  v
2

= − R  −Gv − C  − L  −G − C
z 2
 t   t t  2

Hence, we have:
v 2
v  v
2

− ( RG ) v − ( RC + LG ) − LC  =0 (8)
z 2
t  t 
2

The same equation also holds for i eq(4).

v 2
v  v
2
18
− ( RG ) v − ( RC + LG ) − LC  =0 (8)
z 2
t  t 
2

2
dV
− ( RG )V − ( RC + LG ) jV − LC (− )V = 0
2
2
(9)
dz
Time-Harmonic Waves Equations
 ➢ From eq (9) we get:
19
2
dV
= ( RG )V + j ( RC + LG )V − ( LC )V
2
2 (10)
dz
➢ Note that Z Y
RG + j ( RC + LG ) −  LC = ( R + j L)(G + j C )
2
(11)

Z = R + j L = series impedance/length (12)

Y = G + jC = parallel admittance/length (13)

2
➢ Therefore, from eq (12 and13), eq (10) can be written as: dV
= ( ZY )V
2
dz
And
g = ZY
2
Where g is called the "propagation constant."
 ❑ Example 1: Let g = ZY
2
Where g is called the "propagation constant."
2
20
dV
Then time harmonics of wave are given by: = (g )V
2
2

dz
Obtain equation for forward travelling wave in the positive z direction.

✓ Solution:
V ( z ) = Ae −g z
+ Be +g z

g =  ( R + j L)(G + jC ) 
1/ 2
➢ Convention: z= z e j /2 −    
= principal square root

g = a + jb a = attenuation contant
b = phase constant
a  0, b  0
• Forward travelling wave (a wave traveling in the positive z direction):
+ + −g z + −a z − jb z
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V ( z) = V e 0 =V e 0 e (1)


v + ( z , t ) = Re (V0+ e −a z e − j b z ) e jt 
= Re ( V 0
+
e j e −a z e − j b z )e 
jt

= V0+ e −a z cos (t − b z +  ) (2)

The wave “repeats” when:

t =0
g
+ −a z
b = 2
g
V 0
e Hence:
z 2
b =
 g
Phase Velocity (vp) 22
➢ It is the speed and direction at which the phase of a wave propagates through space.
➢ Track the velocity of a fixed point on the wave (a point of constant phase), e.g., the
crest.

vp (phase velocity)

v+ ( z, t ) = V0+ e−a z cos(t − b z +  )

➢ The group velocity (vg )of a wave is the velocity with which the overall envelope
shape of the wave's amplitudes (known as the modulation or envelope of the wave)
propagates through space.
➢ Let,
t − b z = constant 23
dz
−b =0
dt
dz 
=
dt b
➢ Hence,

v =
p
b
➢ In expanded form Phase Velocity is:

v =
p


Im  ( R + j L)(G + jC ) 
1/ 2