Calculation of radiation patterns of microstrip antennas on cylindrical bodies of arbitrary cross section

A simplified approach based on reciprocity is presented to calculate the radiation patterns of microstrip patch antennas or arrays on a cylindrical body having an arbitrary cross section. In this approach, the microstrip patch antennas are characterized using the finite-element method, and their radiation patterns are then calculated using a two-dimensional method of moments in conjunction with the reciprocity theorem. The validity of the calculation is demonstrated by comparison with measured data for a microstrip patch antenna on a circular cylinder attached to a plate. Other numerical examples are also presented to show the capability of the method as well as various effects of the host cylinder on radiation patterns.