DEPARTMENT OF AVIONICS
ENGINEERING
COURSE : MICROWAVE ENGINEERING LAB
COURSE CODE : 308724
LAB NO. : 08
TITLE : Wilkinnson power divider
INSTRUCTOR : Mam Humail
SEMESTER : 07 SECTION : B
Member 1
NAME M Umar Aslam
REG NO 210701062
MARKS OBT.
PERFORMANCE
VIVA
DATE OF SUBMISSION :
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Abstract
This laboratory exercise focuses on the design and full-wave simulation of an unequal
Wilkinson Power Divider intended to distribute microwave power in a 1:3 ratio between two
output ports. The divider is designed to provide good impedance matching at the input while
maintaining isolation between output ports through the use of quarter-wave transmission
lines and a resistive isolation network. Simulation results confirm satisfactory input matching
and asymmetric power division near the target operating frequency of approximately 2.8
GHz.
Objective:
To design and simulate an unequal Wilkinson Power Divider capable of splitting input power
into 25% and 75% portions while maintaining proper impedance matching at the input port
and minimizing reflections at the design frequency.
Background/Theory
The Wilkinson Power Divider is a widely used microwave component that enables signal
division with three key advantages:
⚫ Matched input and output ports
⚫ Low insertion loss
⚫ High isolation between output arms
Unlike a simple T-junction, the Wilkinson configuration incorporates quarter-wavelength
transmission lines and an isolation resistor connecting the output ports. When the output
ports are properly matched, no current flows through the isolation resistor, making the
divider theoretically lossless. In the event of output mismatch, reflected power is absorbed
by the resistor rather than propagating back toward the source or the other output port.
Design Schematic:
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Calculation:
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Simulated Results:
S-Parameter Plots with Markers
S₁₁ (Input Return Loss)
S₂₁ (Transmission to 25% Arm)
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S₃₁ (Transmission to 75% Arm)
Analysis
Input Matching Performance
The simulated return loss of −14.59 dB satisfies standard microwave design criteria, as values
below −10 dB indicate acceptable matching. This confirms that only a small fraction of the
incident power is reflected back toward the source, ensuring efficient power transfer into the
divider.
Power Division Behavior
The transmission coefficients demonstrate that the majority of the input power is delivered to
one output port (S21), while a smaller fraction is directed to the second output port (S31).
Although the measured values slightly differ from the ideal theoretical values for a perfect 1:3
split, the deviation remains within acceptable practical limits.
Sources of Deviation
Minor discrepancies between theoretical and simulated results can be attributed to:
⚫ Junction: The finite physical dimensions of the microstrip junction introduce parasitic
inductance and capacitance that are not accounted for in ideal analytical models.
⚫ Frequency-Dependent Dielectric Behavior: The effective dielectric constant of the
substrate varies with frequency, slightly detuning the quarter-wave sections.
⚫ Meshing Limitations: Narrow microstrip lines used for higher characteristic impedances
are sensitive to mesh resolution, which can introduce small impedance errors during
simulation.
Conclusion
The unequal Wilkinson Power Divider was successfully designed and validated through full-
wave simulation. The structure achieved a well-matched input with a return loss of −14.59 dB
near 2.81 GHz. Transmission results of S21 = −1.77 dB and S31 = −5.37 dB confirm effective
unequal power division. Despite small deviations from ideal theoretical values due to practical
electromagnetic effects, the divider demonstrates reliable performance suitable for
microwave communication applications.
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