Study of Electromagnetic Field Attenuation with Distance Using Friis-Based Modeling
Keywords:
Antenna radiation, Electromagnetic propagation, Field strength, Friis equation, Wireless communicationAbstract
The propagation of electromagnetic waves from transmitting antennas plays a crucial role in wireless communication systems. This study investigates the variation of radiated electric field strength with distance using theoretical modeling and computational simulation. The analysis is based on the Friis transmission equation, which establishes an inverse relationship between field strength and distance from the transmitting antenna. A SciLab-based simulation is employed to compute and visualize the electric field variation over a wide range of distances. The results demonstrate that as the distance increases, the field strength decreases significantly, confirming theoretical expectations. This behavior is essential for understanding signal attenuation in practical communication systems, including mobile networks and satellite communication. The study provides insight into electromagnetic wave propagation characteristics and highlights the importance of antenna parameters in determining signal strength. The findings can be useful for optimizing wireless system design and improving transmission efficiency. The simulation confirms that the received field strength decreases as the distance from the transmitting antenna increases, in agreement with theoretical expectations.
References
H. T. Friis, “A note on a simple transmission formula,” Proceedings of the IRE, vol. 34, no. 5, pp. 254–256, May 1946.
C. A. Balanis, Antenna Theory Analysis and Design, 4th ed. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, 2016.
Y. Kim, S. Boo, G. Kim, N. Kim, and B. Lee, “Wireless power transfer efficiency formula applicable in near and far fields,” Journal of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 239–244, Oct. 2019.
C. Zhang, Z. Ma, J. Wang, Y. Yao, X. Han, and X. He, “Measurement, data analysis and modeling of electromagnetic wave propagation gain in a typical vegetation environment,” PLoS One, vol. 18, no. 1, 2023.
Q. Yang et. al., “Path loss modeling for RIS-assisted wireless communication in tunnel scenarios,” Sensors, vol. 25, no. 4, Art. no. 1247, 2025.
T. S. Rappaport, G. R. MacCartney, M. K. Samimi, and S. Sun, “Wideband millimeter-wave propagation measurements and channel models for future wireless communication system design,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 63, no. 9, pp. 3029–3056, Sept. 2015.
J. B. Andersen, T. S. Rappaport, and S. Yoshida, “Propagation measurements and models for wireless communications channels,” IEEE Communications Magazine, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 42–49, Jan. 1995.
V. Erceg et al., "An empirically based path loss model for wireless channels in suburban environments," in IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 17, no. 7, pp. 1205-1211, July 1999.
M. D. Yacoub, "The κ-μ distribution and the η-μ distribution," in IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 68-81, Feb. 2007.
S. Sun et al., "Propagation Path Loss Models for 5G Urban Micro- and Macro-Cellular Scenarios," 2016 IEEE 83rd Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC Spring), Nanjing, China, 2016, pp. 1-6.
T. S. Rappaport, Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2024.
A. Goldsmith, “Frontmatter,” in Wireless Communications, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005, pp. 1–6.
J. B. Andersen, T. S. Rappaport and S. Yoshida, "Propagation measurements and models for wireless communications channels," in IEEE Communications Magazine, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 42-49, Jan. 1995.
A. F. Molisch, Wireless Communications, 2nd ed. Chichester, U.K.: Wiley, 2011.
W. C. Y. Lee, Mobile Communications Engineering: Theory and Applications, 2nd ed. New York, NY, USA: McGraw-Hill, 1997.
J. D. Parsons, The Mobile Radio Propagation Channel, 2nd ed. Chichester, U.K.: Wiley, 2001.
H. L. Bertoni, Radio Propagation for Modern Wireless Systems. Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Prentice Hall PTR, 1999.
S. R. Saunders and A. Aragón-Zavala, Antennas and Propagation for Wireless Communication Systems 3e, 2nd ed. Chichester, U.K.: John Wiley & Sons, 2024.
ITU-R, “P.525: Calculation of Free-Space Attenuation,” International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 2024.
M. Hata, "Empirical formula for propagation loss in land mobile radio services," in IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 317-325, Aug. 1980.
Y. Okumura, E. Ohmori, T. Kawano, and K. Fukuda, “Field strength and its variability in VHF and UHF land-mobile radio service,” Review of the Electrical Communication Laboratories, vol. 16, pp. 825–873, Sept.–Oct. 1968.
C. A. Balanis, Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design, 2nd ed. New York, USA: Wiley, 1997.
D. M. Pozar, Microwave Engineering, 4th ed. Hoboken, NJ, USA: Wiley, 2011.
S. Haykin, Communication Systems, 4th ed. New York, NY, USA: Wiley, 2001.