Radio wave propagation characteristics in lossy circular waveguides such as tunnels, mine shafts, and boreholes

In this paper, we present the characteristics of radio propagation in a circular lossy waveguide whose walls are composed of earth soil materials with frequency-dependent properties. This type of structure is used to represent a radio link for an underground wireless communication channel such as a tunnel, mine shaft, or borehole. We present calculated results of the attenuation constant for various propagation modes in the soil waveguide structure for various soil constituents and moisture levels. Transverse field plots of the various modes for different soil types are also presented. Finally, it is shown that for small \k(2)a\ (where k(2) is the wavenumber in the soil and a is the radius of the waveguide) some modes in the waveguide disappear and a discussion of this behavior and how it relates to excitation problems is given.