Transmission Line Theory

Dr. M.A.Motawea

Introduction:

In an electronic system, the delivery of power requires the connection of

two wires between the source and the load. At low frequencies, power is
considered to be delivered to the load through the wire.

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 coaxial cable, a two wire line, a parallel plate or
planar line, a wire above the conducting plane, and a micro-strip line
 Cross sectional views of these lines consists of two conductors in figure
,each of these lines consists of two conductors in parallel
 Coaxial cables are used in electrical laboratories and in connecting T.V sets
to T.V antennas
 Micro-strip lines are important in integrated circuits where metallic strips
connecting electronic elements are deposited on dielectric substrates.

There are different types of modes propagatr between the two conductorsof
transmission line as:

- TE, transverse electric, i.e. EZ  0, H Z  0

- TM, transverse magnetic, i.e. H Z  0, EZ  0
- TEM, transverse electro-magnetic i.e. H Z  EZ  0
- Propagate in Z-direction, H Z , EZ
Transmission line problems are usually solved using EM field theory and electric
theory, the two major theories on which electrical engineering is based, we use
circuit theory because it is easier to deal with mathematics.

Our analysis of transmission lines will include the derivation of transmission line
equations and characteristic quantities, the use of Smith chart , various practical
applications of transmission lines, and transients on transmission lines.

a b

c d e

Cross sectional view of transmission lines:

a-coaxial line b-two wire line c- planar line d- wire above conducting plane

e- microstrip line
 RS S I

E
Vg
RL

coaxial line
generator load

E & H fields in the coaxial line

For conductor (  C , C ,  C   0 ), and for dielectric (  ,  ,  ) .

Transmission Lines Parameters:

We must describe a transmission line in terms of its line parameters.

R[Ω/m] ….conductivity of conductor

L[H/m]….self inductance of wire

G[Ω-1/m]….dielectric between two conductors

C[F/m]….proximity between two conductors.

We have : LC   , G  C,

i(z,t) R z L z i(z+  z, t )

+ +
I
to generator to load
Gz v(z+  z,t)
v(z,t) Cz

- -
z z z+  z

1- The line parameters R,L,G, and C are not discrete or lumped but distributed as
shown .by this we mean that the parameters are uniformly distributed along the
entire length.
2- For each line, the conductors are characterized by  C ,  C ,  C   0 , and the
homogeneous dielectric separating the conductors is characterized by  ,  , 
 1
3- G  ; R is the ac resistance per unit length of the conductors comprising the line
R
and G is the conductance per length due to the dielectric medium separating the
conductors.
4- The external inductance per unit length; that is, L  Lext . The effects of internal
inductance Lin ( Rl ) are negligible at high frequencies at which most
communication systems operate.
G 
5- For each line, LC   and 
C 
Transmission Line Equations:
As mentioned above , two conductor transmission line supports TEM wave; the
electric and magnetic fields on the line are transverse to the direction of wave
propagation . an important property of TEM waves is that the fields E and H are
uniquely related to voltage V and current I respectively:

V   E.dl I   H .dl

In view of this , we will use circuit equations V and I in solving the transmission
line problems instead of solving field quantities E and H ( i.e solving Maxwell’s
equations and B.C.), the circuit model is simpler and more convenient.
Let us examine an incremental portion of length z of a two conductor transmission
line . we intend to find an equivalent circuit for this line and drive the line
equations. From the figure of distributed element model of transmission line, we
assume that the wave propagates along +z direction , from the generator to the load.
By applying Kirchoff’s voltage law to the outer loop of figure above , we obtain:

KVL: V  0

V ( Z , t )  RZ * I ( Z , t )  LZ I ( Z , t )  V ( Z  Z , t )
t
V ( Z  Z , t )  V ( Z , t ) 
  RI ( Z , t )  L I ( Z , t )
Z t
By taking the limit of this equation, as Z  0 , leads to
  
 V ( Z , t )  RI ( Z , t )  L I ( Z , t ) (1)
Z t
KCL: I  0 at the main node of the circuit

I (Z , t )  I (Z  Z , t )  I
V ( Z  Z , t )
I ( Z , t )  I ( Z  Z , t )  GZV ( Z  Z , t )  CZ
t
I ( Z  Z , t )  I ( Z , t ) V ( Z  Z , t )
  GV ( Z  Z , t )  C
Z t
By taking the limit of this equation, as Z  0 , leads to

I ( Z , t ) V ( Z , t )
  GV ( Z , t )  C (2)
Z t
If we assume harmonic time dependence so that :
V (Z , t )  Re[Vs (Z )e jt ] I (Z , t )  Re[ I s (Z )e jt ]
Where Vs(Z) and Is(Z) are the phasor forms of V(Z,t) and I(Z,t) respectively

Then eqn (1) becomes

 
 V ( Z , t )  RI ( Z , t )  L I ( Z , t )
Z t
 
 ReVs ( Z )e jt  R Re I s ( Z )e jt  L Re I s ( Z )e jt
Z t
 
 ReVs ( Z )e jt  R Re I s ( Z )e jt  L Re I s ( Z )e jt
Z t


 Vs ( Z )e jt  RI s ( Z )e jt  jLI s ( Z )e jt
Z

 Vs ( Z )  RI s ( Z )  jLI s ( Z )  ( R  jL) I s ( Z )
Z


 Vs ( Z )  ( R  jL) I s ( Z ) (3)
Z
Also,
d
 I s ( Z )  (G  jC )Vs ( Z ) (4)
dZ

d2 d
By taking d/dt of 3:  V ( Z )  ( R  jL)
2 s
I s (Z )
dZ dZ

d2
Substitute in 4: Vs ( Z )  ( R  jL)(G  jC )Vs ( Z )
dZ 2

d2
Vs ( Z )  ( R  jL)(G  jC )Vs ( Z )  0
dZ 2

d2
 V ( Z )   2Vs ( Z )  0
2 s Wave eqn for voltage (5)
dZ

Also,

d2
I (Z )   2 I s (Z )  0
2 s Wave eqn for current (6)
dZ

These are wave equations for voltage and current similar in form to the wave
equations obtained for plane waves in previous chapter.

  ( R  jL)(G  jC )    j (7)

 is the propagation constant.
 is attenuation factor, [Np/m, dB/m].  is phase constant [rad/sec].
2 
 is wavelength, [m]. u  f is wave velocity, [m/s].
 

Solution of wave equation:

 The solutions of the linear homogeneous differential equations, 5 and 6 are:
Vs (Z )  V0 e Z  V0 e Z (8) and I s (Z )  I 0 eZ  I 0eZ (9)
+z -z +z -z
Where :
V0 ,V0 , I 0 , I 0 are wave amplitudes; + and – sign respectively denote wave
traveling along +Z and –Z directions, as is also indicated by the arrows.
Thus we obtain the instantaneous expression for voltage as :

V ( z, t )  Re[Vs (Z )e jt ]  V0 e Z cos(t  z)  V0 e Z cos(t  z) (10)

We define the C/C impedance Z0 of the line as the ratio of positively traveling
voltage wave to current wave at any point on the line. Z0 is analogous to η
(intrinsic impedance of the medium of wave propagation).

By substituting eqs, (8) and (9) into eqs. (5) , (6) and equating coefficients of terms
e Z and e Z as:
We have:


Vs (Z )  V0 eZ  V0eZ ,  Vs ( Z )  ( R  jL) I s ( Z )
Z
V0 eZ  V0eZ  ( R  jL) I 0eZ  ( R  jL) I 0eZ
By equating coefficient of the exponential , then:
V0 ( R  jL)
V  ( R  jL) I
 
,  (11)
0 0
I 0 
V0 ( R  jL)
 V  ( R  jL) I
 
,  (12)
0 0
I0

V0 V0 ( R  jL) R  jL
Z0      (13)
I0
I0
( R  jL)(G  jC ) G  jC

R  jL
Z0  C/C impedance of the line
G  jC
We have also:

I s (Z )  I 0eZ  I 0eZ 
d
I s ( Z )  (G  jC )Vs ( Z )
dZ

I 0eZ  I 0eZ  (G  jC )(V0eZ  V0eZ )

By equating coft of the exponential , then:
V0 
I  (G  jC )V
 

0 0
I 0 G  jC (13)

V0 
 I  (G  jC )V
    (14)
0 0
I 0 G  jC
V0 V0  ( R  jL)(G  jC ) R  jL
Z0       (15)
I0
I0
G  jC G  jC G  jC

R  jL
Z0   R0  jX 0
G  jC

Where R0 [Ω] is real part of Z0 , X0 [Ω] is imaginary part of Z0 . The propagation

constant  and the C/C impedance Z0 are important properties of the line because
they both depend on the line parameters R,l,G, and C and the frequency of
operation. the reciprocal of z0 is the C/c admittance Y0, that is Y0 = 1/Z0.
We may now consider two special cases of lossless transmission line and
distortion-less line.

A- Lossless line:

A transmission line is said to be lossless if the conductors of the line are

perfect (  C   ) and the dielectric medium separating them is lossless (   0) . For

such line : R0G necessary condition for a line to be lossless.

Then:   ( R  jL)(G  jC )    j
  ( jL)( jC )    j
 1
  0,    LC , u   f
 LC
R  jL L
Also, Z 0   R0  jX 0 
G  jC C
L
X0  0 , Z 0  R0 
C
It is desirable for power transmission,

B- 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 as
α is frequency dependent. This results in distortion. A distortion-less line is one
in which the attenuation constant α is frequency independent while the phase
constant β is linearly dependent on frequency. From the general expression for
α and β . it is evident that a distortion-less line results if the line parameters are
such that :
R G

L C

L C C
  ( R  jL)(G  jC )  RG (1  j )(1  j )  RG (1  j )    j
R G G
C R L
  RG ,    RG  C  C   LC
G G C

 1
u   f
 LC

Showing that α deos not depend on frequency, whereas β is a linear function of

frequency.
 R  jL R(1  jL / R) R L
Z0   R0  jX 0   
G  jC G(1  jC / G) G C
L
X0  0 , Z 0  R0 
C

Note that:

1. The phase velocity is independent of frequency because the phase

constant  linearly depends on frequency. We have shape distortion of
signals unless u and are independent on frequency.
2. u and Z 0 remain the same as for lossless line.
3. A lossless line is also distortion-less line,but a distortion-less line is not
necessarily lossless. Although lossless lines are desirable in power
transmission, Telephone lines are required to be distortion-less.
 Microwave Engineering

Sheet #3-a

Transmission line
Q1: Define T.L.?
Q2: State types of mode which propagate in T.L.?
Q3: Deduce the formula of propagation constant ,  ?
Q4: Deduce the formula of C/C impedance, Z0 ?
Q5: Sketch E/H field in coaxial cable?
Q6: An air line has Z0 =70 Ω, and phase constant =3 rad/m at f= 100MHz
Calculate: - the inductance/m - the capacitance/m
Q7: A transmission line operating at f=500 MHz has Z0 =80 Ω ,   0.04 N p / m
  1.5rad / m , Find the line parameters R,L,G, and C.
Q8: A distortion-less line has Z0= 60 Ω ,   20mN p / m , u=0.6 c(velocity of light in vacuum).
Find: R,l,G,C and  at f=100 MHz?
Q9: A telephone line has R= 30 Ω/km, L= 100 mH/km, G=0, and C= 20 µF/km at f= 1 kHz,
obtain: a- C/C impedance of the line
b- propagation constant
c- the phase velocity

Dr. M.A.Motawea
2- Input Impedance, Standing Wave Ratio, and Power:

Consider a transmission line of length l, characterized by  and Z 0 , connected to a

load Z L as shown in figure:
l' = l-Z
Zg Z
I0

+ IL +

Vg V0 ZL VL
Zin Zin
_
_

Z=0 Z=l

a- Input impedance due to a line terminated by a load

Zg
I0

+
Vg V0 Zin
_

b- Equivalent circuit for finding V0 and I0 in terms of Zin at the input

Looking into the line, the generator sees the line with the load as an input
impedance Z inp . It is our intention in this section to determine the input impedance,
the standing wave ratio (SWR), and power flow on the line.

Let the transmission line extend from z = 0 at the generator to z = l at the

load. First of all, we need V0 and I 0 , as mention above,
Vs ( z )  V0 eZ  V0eZ (1)

V0 Z V0  Z

I s ( z )  I 0eZ  I 0eZ , I s ( z)  e  e (2)
Z0 Z0
Where eqn of Z0 has been incorporated,

V0 V0 ( R  jL)  R  jL

Z0         (3)
I0 I0  G  jC G  jC

To find V0 and V0 the terminal conditions must be given.

e.g. at the input , (at z = 0) :

V0  V ( z  0), (4)

I 0  I ( z  0), (5)

Substitute (4), (5) into (1) ,(2) results in :

1
V0  (V0  Z 0 I 0 ) (6)
2

1
V0  (V0  Z 0 I 0 ) (7)
2
If the input impedance at the input terminals is Z inp , the input voltage V0 and the
input current I0 are easily obtained from figure as:

Z in Vg
V0  Vg , I0  (8)
Z in  Z g Z in  Z g

(at z = l ) :

On the other hand, if we are given the conditions at the load, say:
 VL  V ( z  l ) , I L  I (z  l) (9)

Substitute this into eqn (1), (2) gives:

1
V0  (VL  Z 0 I L )el (10)
2
1
V0  (VL  Z 0 I L )e l (11)
2
at any point on the line:

Next we determine input impedance Z in  Vs ( z ) / I s ( z ) at any point on the line.

at the generator, for example,

Vs ( z ) Z 0 (V0  V0 )
Z in   (12)
I s ( z) V0  V0

Substituting eqn (1), (11) into (12) yields:

 (VL  Z 0 I L )e l (VL  Z 0 I L )e l   e L  e L e L  e L 

      L
V ( )  Z I ( )
V ( z ) Z 0 (V0  V0 ) 2 2 2
0 L
2
Z in  s   Z0  l l
  Z0  L L L

I s ( z) 
V0  V0 
 (VL  Z 0 I L )e  (VL  Z 0 I L )e  V ( e  e )  Z I ( e  e L 
  )
2 2  L 2
0 L
2 
VL  VL 
cosh l  Z 0 sinh l  cosh l  Z 0 sinh l 
V cosh l  Z 0 I L sinh l I I
 Z0 L  Z0[ L ]  Z0  L 
VL sinh l  Z 0 I L cosh l  sinh l  Z 0 cosh l 
VL VL
sinh l  Z 0 cosh l 
IL  IL 
 Z cosh l  Z 0 sinh l   Z L  Z 0 tanh l )   Z L  Z 0 tanh l ) 
 Z0  L   Z0    Z0  
 Z L sinh l  Z 0 cosh l   Z L tanh l  Z 0   Z 0  Z L tanh l 

(13)

 Z  Z 0 tanh l ) 
 Z in  Z 0  L *
 0
Z  Z L tanh l 
for lossy line (14)
  Z  jZ 0 tanh l ) 
 Z in  Z 0  L  * for lossless line (15)
 Z 0  jZ L tanh l 
This indicates that the input impedance varies periodically with distance l from
the load. The quantity βl is usually referred to as the electrical length of the line
and can be expressed in degree or radians.

Voltage reflection coefficient ( L ):

We now defined L as the voltage reflection coefficient (at the load) .

L is the ratio of the voltage reflection wave to the incident wave at the load:

V0 e l
L   l ,
V0 e

Z L  Z0
by eqn 10, 11 gives: L  (16)
Z L  Z0

In general , the voltage reflection coefficient at any point on the line can be
defined as the ratio of the magnitude of the reflected voltage wave to that of the
incident wave , that is as.

V0 el V0 2z

L ( z )   l   e
V0 e V0
V0 e l
But z  l  l , substituting and combining with eqn L   l , we get:
'
V0 e

V0 2l  2l '

L ( z )   e e  L e 2l
'

V0 (17)
current reflection coefficient

The current reflection coefficient at any point on the line is negative of the voltage
reflection coefficient at that point. Thus , the current reflection coefficient at the
load is : I 0 el / I 0 e l  L
as we did in plane waves, we define the standing wave ratio (s) :

Vmax I max 1  L
s  
Vmin I min 1  L (18)

It is easy to show that I max  Vmax / Z 0 and I min  Vmin / Z 0 .

The input impedance Z inp in eqn (14) has maxima and minima that occur
respectively at the maxima and minima of the voltage and current standing wave.

It is easily shown that:

Vmax
Z in max
  sZ 0 (19)
I min

Vmin Z 0
And Z in min
  (20)
I max s
As a way of demonstrating these concepts, consider a lossless line with
characteristic of Z 0  50 . For the sake of simplicity, we assume that the line is
terminated in a pure resistive load Z L  100 and the voltage at the load is 100 V
(rms). The conditions on the line repeat themselves every half wavelength.

The average input power at a distance z from the load is given by an

equation similar to eqn of Pav,

1
Pav  Re[Vs ( z ) I s* ( z )] (21)
2
 voltage &current wave patterns on a lossless line terminated by a resistive load.

We now consider special cases when the line is connected to load Z L  0 ,

Z L   , and Z L  Z 0 . These special cases can easily be derived from the general
case.

A. Shorted Line (ZL =0)

 For this case , eq. (15) becomes:

Z sc  Z in Z L 0
 jZ 0 tan l (22)

Also, L  1, s

This impedance is pure reactance, which could be capacitive or inductive
depending on the value of l . The variation of Zin with l is shown in
figure (a).

Input impedance of a lossless line: (a) when shorted, (b) when open
B. Open Circuited Line ( Z L   )

In this case , eq (15) becomes

 Z0
Z oc  lim z L  Z in    jZ 0 cot l
j tan l (23)

L  1, s
The variation of Zin with l is shown in figure (b) . notice from eqs (22),(23) that:

Z oc Z sc  Z 02 (24)

C. Matched Line ( Z in  Z 0 )

This is the most desired case from the practical point of view. For this case, eq(15)
reduces to:

Z in  Z 0 (25)

And

L  0, s 1
That is , V0  0 , the whole wave is transmitted and there is no reflection . the
incident power is fully absorbed by the load. Thus maximum power transfer is
possible when the transmission line is matched to the load.

Example:

A 30-m long lossless transmission line with Z0 =50 Ω operating at 2 MHz is

terminated with a load Z L  60  j 40 . If u  0.6c on the line. Find:

a- The reflection coefficient 

b- The standing wave ratio s.
c- The input impedance.
 Z L  Z 0 60  j 40  50 10  j 40 (10  j 40)(110  j 40) 2700  j 400
L      
Z L  Z 0 60  j 40  50 110  j 40 (110  j 40)(110  j 40) 13700
27  j 4
  0.2  j 0.03  0.03angle9.50
137
Vmax I max 1  L 1  .03 1.03
s      1.06
Vmin I min 1  L 1  .03 .97

 Z  jZ 0 tanh l ) 
 Z in  Z 0  L 
 Z 0  jZ L tanh l 

3-The Smith Chart

It is a tool to solve problems of transmission lines , it is commonly used of the

graphical techniques. It is basically a graphical indication of a transmission line as
one moves along the line. We calculate L ,s, and Zin and so on.

Example :

a 100+j150 Ω load is connected to a 75 Ω lossless line . find :

a- 
b- S
c- The load admittance YL
d- Z in at 0.4 from the load
e- The location of Vmax and Vmin w.r.t. the load if the line is 0.6 λ long
f- Zin at the generator.
Smith Chart
 Sheet #3-b

Transmission line

Input impedance, reflection coefficient & standing wave ratio

Q1: a transmission line has c/c impedance Z0=50 Ω is connected with a generator has frequency
f=25 MHz and terminated by a load impedance ZL, at l=25 m from the load Zin=50-j100 .

Required: ZL, L