Waveguides: A Report by

WAVEGUIDES
A Report by:
Geron Advincula
Joel Cristales Jr.
J.Kenneth Jalandoni
Mehfrell Javellana
Lorenz Angelo Sumagaysay
Ralph Malvin Uy
Definition
As a review, transmission lines are the means for carrying
elecromagnetic energy from one place to another.
Definition
Most microwave energy transmission is handled by waveguides.
WAVEGUIDES- a hollow metal tube designed to carry microwave

energy from one place to another. They may be used to carry energy
between pieces of equipment or over longer distances to carry
transmitter power to an antenna or microwave signals from an
antenna to a receiver.
Construction
Waveguides are made from copper, aluminum

or brass. These metals are extruded into long
rectangular, circular or elliptical pipes. Often
the insides of these waveguides are plated with
silver to reduce their resistance to a very low
level. The dimensions of the cross section are
selected such that electromagnetic waves can
propagate within the interior of the guide .
Operation
A waveguide does not conduct current in the
true sense, but rather serves as a boundary
that confines electromagnetic energy. The
walls of the waveguides are conductors and,
therefore, reflect electromagnetic energy from
their surface. If the wall of the waveguide is a
good conductor and very thin, little current
flows in the interior walls and, consequently,
very little power is dissipated.
In a waveguide, conduction of energy does not
occur in the walls of the waveguide, but rather
through the dielectric within the waveguide, which
is usually dehydrated air or inert gas. In essence, a
waveguide is analogous to a metallic wire conductor
with its interior removed. Electromagnetic energy
propagates down a waveguide by reflecting back
and forth in a zigzag pattern. The cross-sectional
area of a waveguide must be on the same order as
the wavelength of the signal it is propagating.
Therefore, waveguides are generally restricted to
frequencies above 1 GHz.
Types of Waveguides
• RECTANGULAR WAVEGUIDE
Rectangular waveguides, as opposed to circular and
elliptical waveguides, are by far the dominant
configuration for the installed base of waveguides for
compact systems like radar and inside equipment
shelters. That is probably due to the generally greater
rigidity of rectangular structures because the wall
thickness can be easily made thicker than with circular.
It is also easier to route and mount in close quarters,
and attaching penetrating objects like probes and
switches is much simpler.
Velocity and Frequency Relation
In waveguides, the velocity varies with
frequency. Group and phase velocities have the
same value in free space and in parallel wire TL.
However, if these two velocities are measured
at the same frequency in a waveguide, it will be
found that, in general, the two velocities are
not the same. At some frequencies they will be
nearly equal and at other frequencies they can
be considerably different.
In addition, it is necessary to distinguish
between two different kinds of velocity:
• Phase Velocity is the apparent velocity of a

particular phase of the wave. It is the velocity
with which a wave changes phase in a
direction parallel to a conducting surface, such
as the walls of a waveguide.
It is determined by measuring the
wavelength of a particular frequency wave
and substituting it into the formula:
Vph = λf
Where: Vph is the phase velocity (metres per second)

f is frequency in hertz
λ is wavelength in meters per cycle
• Phase Velocity in a waveguide is greater than its
velocity in free space, the wavelength for a given
frequency will be greater in the waveguide than
in free space and it is given with the relationship:
Vg= λo(Vph/ c)
where: λo is the free space wavelength in m per cycle

• Group Velocity is the velocity of a group of
waves. It is the velocity at which information
signals of any kind are propagated and at which
energy is propagated. It can be measured by
determining the time it takes for a pulse to
propagate at a given length of waveguide.
VgVph=c2
Where: Vg is the group velocity in m per sec
Vph is the phase velocity
c is the speed of light
Cutoff Frequency and Wavelength
• Cutoff frequency is the minimum frequency of
operation of a waveguide. It is the absolute limiting
frequency( frequencies below the cutoff frequency
will not be propagated by the waveguide).
• Cutoff wavelength is the minimum wavelength that
the waveguide can propagate. It is defined as
smallest free-space wavelength that is just unable to
propagate in the waveguide. Only frequencies with
wavelengths less than the cutoff wavelength can
propagate down the waveguide.
• The mathematical relationship between the
guide wavelength at a particular frequency
and the cutoff frequency is:
λg=c/√(f2-fc2)
where: λg= guide wavelength in m per cycle

fc = cutoff frequency in hertz
f = frequency of operation in hertz
Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
CHARACTERISTIC IMPEDANCE
• Waveguides have a characteristic impedance
that is analogous to the characteristic
impedance of parallel- wire transmission lines
and closely related to the characteristic
impedance of free space.
Zo =
Other Types
• Circular Waveguides are used in radar and microwave applications
when it is necessary or advantageous to propagate both vertically
and horizontally polarized waves in the same waveguide.
• Ridged Waveguide is more expensive to manufacture than a

standard rectangular waveguide but it also allows operation at
lower frequencies for a given size. It has more loss per unit length.
It is useful for specialized applications.
• Flexible Waveguide consists of spiral- wound ribbon of brass and

copper. The outside covered with a soft dielectric coating to keep
the waveguide air- and watertight. It is used extensively in
microwave test equipment.

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WAVEGUIDES

Most microwave energy transmission is handled by waveguides.

WAVEGUIDES- a hollow metal tube designed to carry microwave

Waveguides are made from copper, aluminum

• Phase Velocity is the apparent velocity of a

Where: Vph is the phase velocity (metres per second)

where: λo is the free space wavelength in m per cycle

where: λg= guide wavelength in m per cycle

• Ridged Waveguide is more expensive to manufacture than a

• Flexible Waveguide consists of spiral- wound ribbon of brass and

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