Graduation Year
2020
Date of Submission
5-2020
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Award
Best Senior Thesis in Physical Sciences
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
W.M. Keck Science Department
Reader 1
James Higdon
Reader 2
Tony Lee
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2020 Matthew A Johnson
Abstract
5G, ultra-high frequency wireless networks face numerous hurdles due to significant signal attenuation in materials and large path loss. Empirical research on signal attenuation has been limited to low frequencies or very select high frequencies. This paper utilizes Finite Element Analysis in COMSOL Multiphysics to analyze signal attenuation in materials over a range of the frequency spectrum, from 100Mhz to 40Ghz, which is inclusive of 5G wireless frequencies. The focus of this paper is on glass and dry wood, as well as wet wood (representative of trees), as these materials are some of the most likely to stand in the way between users and cellular nodes. Utilizing various finite element mesh sizes, the analysis found that moderate signal attenuation starts to occur at frequencies above 10GHz, with more severe attenuation starting to occur in the 20-30GHz range. Glass and wet wood effectively block all signals above 30GHz, and while dry wood doesn’t lead to attenuation as severe as glass or wet wood, it is still large enough to make signal reception behind such a material impractical.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Matthew, "An Exploration of 5G Wireless Network Attenuation Using Finite Element Analysis in COMSOL Multiphysics" (2020). CMC Senior Theses. 2377.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/2377
