How can I create a scattering object next to an antenna?

I would like to use the Antenna Toolbox to see how an object in the vicinity of antenna affects the antenna's radiation pattern.

For example, suppose you have a Log-Periodic Dipole Array antenna ("LPDA") next to a perfectly-conducting metal box. An LPDA can be created using the Antenna Toolbox "lpda" command, which will create the LPDA in isolation without any other structures in the environment. How can I add another structure to the LPDA's environment, such as a metal box? 

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

The code snippet below demonstrates how to create an LPDA together with a metal box in its environment. Learn more about this kind of workflow in Custom 2-D and 3-D Antenna and customAntenna.

% Create lpda from the catalaog
l = lpda;
% Mesh the antenna
M = mesh(l,'MaxEdgeLength',0.1);
tr = triangulation(M.Triangles(1:3,:)',M.Points');
% Create a shape from the mesh
lpda_shape = shape.Custom3D(tr);
% Create a shape and assign dielectric
lpda_sub = shape.Box('Length',l.BoardLength,'Width',l.BoardWidth,'Height',l.Height,'Dielectric','Fr4');
[~] = translate(lpda_sub,[0 0 lpda_sub.Height/2]);
% Create a metal box using the box shape
box = shape.Box('Length',0.05,'Width',0.05,'Height',0.05);
tl = 0.1;
[~] = translate(box,[0 0 tl]);
% Create a enclosure such that entire box and lpda structure lies inside
% this
enclosure = shape.Box('Length',box.Length*1.1,'Width',box.Width*1.1,'Height',box.Height*1.5);
[~] = translate(enclosure,[0 0 box.Height*0.25]);
% Add metal lpda,box
lpda_box = add(lpda_shape,box);
% Add lpda dielectric,enclosure
lpda_diel = add(lpda_sub,enclosure);
% Add metal and dielectric
total_sh = addSubstrate(lpda_box,lpda_sub);
% Create antenna from the geometry
ant_lpda = customAntenna('Shape',total_sh);
[~] = createFeed(ant_lpda,l.FeedLocation,1);
show(ant_lpda);