Simplified calculation of ground losses in low- and medium-frequency antenna systems

Calculations of ground losses are paramount in obtaining the best performance of a monopole antenna in the low- (LF) and medium-frequency (MF) bands. Ground losses are usually computed numerically, due to difficulties in the mathematical formalism. The novel approach here permits obtaining simple analytical expressions for ground-loss calculations that can be useful for determining the behavior of the ground plane. As a first approximation, the monopole antenna is placed on a perfect electrically conducting (PEC) ground plane in order to obtain the antenna current distribution and the near magnetic field, taking into account the non-zero-radius effect of the monopole. Next, the near magnetic field is used to determine the surface-current density on the ground plane below the antenna. This is divided into two zones: (1) the artificial ground plane, where either a radial-wire ground screen or a metallic layer is used to increase the soil´s conductivity; and (2) the natural ground plane or bare soil up to a circular boundary a half wavelength from the antenna´s base. The power dissipation is calculated from the artificial and natural ground-plane surface-current densities, and the ground-plane loss resistance is obtained. Also, an effective conductivity is defined as a measure of the ground plane´s effectiveness, and the cases of quarter-wave monopoles and short top-loaded antennas are analyzed. Some results are validated by means of numerical computations and moment method simulations