Topband: Modeling "Ground" and losses

[Jim Brown]

On Wed,2/25/2015 5:27 AM, Tom W8JI wrote:
> Of interest down here is surface-buried radials down here show 
> definite standing waves in actual measurements, so it doesn't care 
> what BL and E measured. 

Not only that, but it defies logic that radials would NOT exhibit the 
same current and voltage distribution of any other conductor carrying RF 
current. The boundary condition is near zero at the end ( "near" because 
of capacitance at the end). Rudy Severns, N6LF, has explored this in his 
studies of radial systems. Rudy's work includes extensive modeling to 
understand and document what he was seeing in measurements of carefully 
constructed experimental systems.

I recall seeing at least one study of current distribution in radial 
systems published in QST -- something like 20-30 years ago. I found it 
as a pdf on the ARRL website about 10 years ago. I remember that it 
documented exactly what Tom has observed -- that current varies along 
the radial and depending on the soil under the radial.

73, Jim K9YC