Finite element model generation for efficient and accurate electromagnetic vehicle roof antenna simulations

Topic of this paper is the efficient modelling and simulation of state-of-the-art roof antennas employed for vehicles of the AUDI AG. In the investigated roof antenna, several services are joined within one antenna assembly covered by a common housing. To investigate whether the antenna fulfills all specifications concerning scattering parameters and radiation patterns, the antenna needs to be simulated. The simulation has to include all passive and active components under consideration of fabrication tolerances. All simulation results in this paper have been achieved using the finite element method offered by CST MWS. A prerequisite for successful simulation is a model which considers the geometry with an appropriate level of detail, all information about transitions from active circuits to antennas, as well as the scattering parameters of the active circuits.