Accuracy of propagation modeling on transmission lines

This paper investigates the accuracy of the nonuniform multiconductor transmission lines (NMTL) equations when they are used to reproduce voltages and currents on structures made of nonparallel conductors. A commercial software based on the NEC2 kernel is used as a virtual measurement tool to validate the outcome of the NMTL model. Three factors that affect the accuracy of the NMTL equations are evidenced, namely radiation, nonuniformity of the cross-section, and asymmetry between different conductors. The results show that the NMTL equations constitute a quite robust model for a wide range of structures. Therefore, it is confirmed that the NMTL equations can be used to simulate the electrical behavior of many interconnects of practical interest