A method to calculate the microwave attenuation coefficient of traveling-wave electrodes with complicated cross-sectious in Ti: LiNbO
3
optical modulators is described in this paper. It is verified by comparing the calculating results from this method and from other method. Some electrode structures are analysed by using this method and the reasons of discrepancy between the calculating and experimental results are discussed. A modifying coefficient is given for designing broad-band optical modulators.