Product/Service

EM Design And Verification Of Large Complex Structures

Source: IDS Ingegneria Dei Sistemi S.p.A.

Active Electronic Scan Array (AESA) radars typically are composed of thousands of elements and are “flush-mounted” on integrated structures. These features introduce significant new challenges and require new solutions in the field of computational electromagnetics (EM).

The main objectives of the EM modeling of AESA concern:

  1. The generation of accurate EM Models of large arrays, taking into account the mutual coupling between the elements of the array
  2. The installation of large array model(s) on electrically large platform(s) in order to verify the performance of the installed array (i.e., masking, pattern distortion), to identify the antenna’s RCS contribution and to assess potential issues in terms of Radiation Hazard and co-siting EMC/EMI.

In computational electromagnetics, solving this general problem and related issues is the current focus. Some of the matters are related to the complexity of the arrays themselves (hundreds/thousands of elements) and the presence of a large range of geometrical scales (from mm’s to tens of meters); some are associated with flush-mounting and the relevant E.M. coupling physical mechanism (creeping-wave, no more simple space waves); and others regard typical operational requirements (i.e., required high accuracy).

IDS has been traditionally devoted to developing innovative modeling procedures dedicated to high fidelity AESA EM modelling and analysis, overcoming the capabilities found on the commercial market through the provision of the main solvers, procedures and postprocessors integrated into IDS frameworks.

Download the presentation above for an example of a case study that uses IDS' AESA EM modelling and analysis.