Research Article

Enhancing Microstrip Patch Antenna Performance at 14 GHz Using Hexagonal-Shaped Artificial Magnetic Conductors

Volume: 15 Number: 2 June 30, 2026

Enhancing Microstrip Patch Antenna Performance at 14 GHz Using Hexagonal-Shaped Artificial Magnetic Conductors

Abstract

This paper presents the design and numerical simulation of a compact 14 GHz rectangular microstrip patch antenna integrated with a hexagonal-shaped artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) for enhanced radiation performance. The proposed antenna configuration consists of a conventional rectangular microstrip patch positioned above a compact hexagonal AMC structure implemented on an FR-4 substrate. The AMC unit cell features a hexagonal patch with an edge length of 6.41 mm and an overall substrate size of 24 mm × 24 mm, corresponding to subwavelength dimensions at the operating frequency. Full-wave simulations conducted with CST Studio Suite demonstrate that incorporating the AMC results in significant performance improvements without increasing the antenna's physical size. Specifically, the antenna gain is enhanced from 5.65 dBi to 6.95 dBi (approximately 23% improvement), while the directivity increases from 7.21 dBi to 8.56 dBi (approximately 19% improvement) compared to the conventional antenna without AMC. The AMC exhibits an operational bandwidth of approximately 280–300 MHz around the center frequency, based on the ±90° reflection-phase criterion. Moreover, the proposed antenna demonstrates excellent impedance matching with a minimum return loss (S11) of −38 dB at 14 GHz, confirming stable operation at the target frequency. These quantitative results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of hexagonal AMC-backed antennas as a viable and compact solution for high-performance microwave communication applications.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The study is complied with research and publication ethics.

Thanks

This article is produced from the master's thesis "Design of Artificial Magnetic Conductor for Antenna Development at 14 GHz and 26 GHz".

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Antennas and Propagation

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

September 17, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 7, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 2

APA
Mohamed, M. A., & Erdem, E. (2026). Enhancing Microstrip Patch Antenna Performance at 14 GHz Using Hexagonal-Shaped Artificial Magnetic Conductors. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, 15(2), 566-576. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1785950
AMA
1.Mohamed MA, Erdem E. Enhancing Microstrip Patch Antenna Performance at 14 GHz Using Hexagonal-Shaped Artificial Magnetic Conductors. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15(2):566-576. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1785950
Chicago
Mohamed, Mohamed Abdiaziz, and Ediz Erdem. 2026. “Enhancing Microstrip Patch Antenna Performance at 14 GHz Using Hexagonal-Shaped Artificial Magnetic Conductors”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 (2): 566-76. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1785950.
EndNote
Mohamed MA, Erdem E (June 1, 2026) Enhancing Microstrip Patch Antenna Performance at 14 GHz Using Hexagonal-Shaped Artificial Magnetic Conductors. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 2 566–576.
IEEE
[1]M. A. Mohamed and E. Erdem, “Enhancing Microstrip Patch Antenna Performance at 14 GHz Using Hexagonal-Shaped Artificial Magnetic Conductors”, Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 566–576, June 2026, doi: 10.17798/bitlisfen.1785950.
ISNAD
Mohamed, Mohamed Abdiaziz - Erdem, Ediz. “Enhancing Microstrip Patch Antenna Performance at 14 GHz Using Hexagonal-Shaped Artificial Magnetic Conductors”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15/2 (June 1, 2026): 566-576. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1785950.
JAMA
1.Mohamed MA, Erdem E. Enhancing Microstrip Patch Antenna Performance at 14 GHz Using Hexagonal-Shaped Artificial Magnetic Conductors. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15:566–576.
MLA
Mohamed, Mohamed Abdiaziz, and Ediz Erdem. “Enhancing Microstrip Patch Antenna Performance at 14 GHz Using Hexagonal-Shaped Artificial Magnetic Conductors”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 566-7, doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1785950.
Vancouver
1.Mohamed Abdiaziz Mohamed, Ediz Erdem. Enhancing Microstrip Patch Antenna Performance at 14 GHz Using Hexagonal-Shaped Artificial Magnetic Conductors. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026 Jun. 1;15(2):566-7. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1785950

Bitlis Eren University

Journal of Science Editor

Bitlis Eren University Graduate Institute

Bes Minare Mah. Ahmet Eren Bulvari, Merkez Kampus, 13000 BITLIS

E-mail: fbe@beu.edu.tr