Computer Simulation for the Design of Radar Absorbing Material (RAM)

To avoid detection by enemy radar, military platforms are often coated with Radar Absorbing Material (RAM). RAM is intended to operate over a wide range of frequencies with a minimum amount of angular dependence to increase platform survivability. Wepropose the development of a framework for designing broadband RAM by integrating expertise into very efficient computational electromagnetics and design optimization methods. The proposed full wave computational tools are fast and general in terms ofmaterial generality and geometry. They will be adapted and enhanced for RAM design applications and will be further integrated with Pareto genetic algorithms and new design methods best suited for graded composite materials. The proposed design methodswill allow novel material designs, which offer much greater variability in performance than those found in nature. Designs based on multilayered cascaded RLC configurations and new artificial, but manufacturable, materials designs will be considered. Theproposed design methods will be automated to allow for the specification of material properties subject to specific design guidelines on geometry, material and electrical requirements. The proposed computer simulation tool will be integrated with auser-friendly graphical interface for ease of use. The proposed computational tools are not only applicable to RAM designs, but they are also applicable for designing new materials for a variety of RF applications. These applications include frequencyselective surfaces, microwave filters and a large class of grated materials for antenna design.