Modular simulation of a compact antenna test range

This paper presents a method for the modular simulation of a Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR). The CATR simulated in this work is similar to the installed facility at the Microwaves and Radar Institute at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen and it has a dual reflector configuration. A model of this facility was created and simulated with both full-wave methods such as Method of Moments (MoM) and asymptotic methods such as Iterative Physical Optics (IPO) by means of the software tool Antenna Design Framework (ADF). The implemented method is used to gather insights of the working principle of this chamber, to provide data in order to judge real obtained measurement results, and to draw out weaknesses of this CATR.