A MULTIRADIUS, RECIPROCAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE THIN-WIRE MOMENT METHOD

An implementation of the moment method for electromagnetic analysis of multiradius thin-wire structures, including multiwire, multiradius junctions is presented. It is entitled the multiradius bridge-current (MBC) moment method. It is an extension of the authors’ uniradius bridge-current reformulation of Richmond's uniradius thin-wire theory. The method features an exactly symmetric mutual impedance matrix ensuring reciprocity between sources, it is unconstrained with respect to both the length ratio and the radius ratio of adjoining segments provided that the wires are electrically thin, and it permits the self-consistent inclusion of coaxial-cable sections in the configuration under analysis. The method is validated through comparison with transmissionline theory for a two-wire line and a coaxial cable, and through comparison with measurements on a sleeve monopole antenna and a log-periodic dipole antenna. Finally, the MBC moment method program is shown to surpass the Numerical Electromagnetics Code (NEC) in terms of reciprocity and convergence for both an AM broadcast tower detuning stub problem and a bent two-wire transmissionline problem. © 1990 IEEE