Weapon System Performance in Complex Radio Frequency (RF) Environments

Many highly accurate electromagnetic solvers have been developed based on a variety of full-wave and asymptotic algorithms. The tools provide cost effective insight into electromagnetic phenomena and allow analysts to perform trade studies while reducing expensive measurements. By itself, a well-developed EM analysis tool is not sufficient to produce accurate results; accurate results require an accurate input geometry model that is designed to meet the EM solver’s requirements. The development of an accurate CAD model and associated mesh of a particular platform can be a labor intensive task. We propose to develop a graphical software tool that will greatly reduce the amount of time spent on preparing meshes and/or surface models for use with EM solvers. The tool’s inputs and outputs will include both triangular and NURBS asymptotic models as well as triangular and quadrilateral full-wave meshes. The tool will allow analysts to automatically identify problems with existing meshes based upon user specified criteria related to edge length, aspect ratio, connectivity, etc. Our approach will address the healing of existing models and meshes, the conversion between quadrilateral and triangular meshes, conversion between asymptotic and full-wave meshes, and the conversion between meshes and NURBS models.