Advanced Computational Methods for Study of Electromagnetic Compatibility

The leakage of electromagnetic (EM) energy into air vehicles, and particularly into ordnance, poses a hazard that requires careful evaluation. Under current guidelines, such evaluations are primarily to be carried out through extensive testing of items under possible field conditions, a process that can be both time-consuming and costly. The scope of this STTR Phase I activity is to implement a high order accurate full wave time-domain, broad band electromagnetics solver to predict the electromagnetic field environment for integration and certification of armament and munitions for aircraft with complex weapons delivery platforms. This modeling and simulation capability will provide the needed critical support and cost savings to the US Air Force, 46th Test Wing, 780th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, in performing various test and evaluation (T&E) studies for assessment of aircraft/store EM compatibility. HyPerComp plans to collaborate with Professor Stephen Gedney of the University of Kentucky in this effort. BENEFIT: In addition to serving the vital interests of the Air Force, the development of an electromagnetic solver for electrically large problems will be well suited for a number of commercial applications involving EM simulations. Some of these include patient-specific hyperthermia radiation treatment for cancer, study of long term radiation effects from cellular phones, the sensitivity of cellular phones to various positions in a metropolitan area, hazards from high power lines near residential areas, meeting the EMC specifications of high power microwave circuits, and modeling of waveguide problems. The advancements to be made in quick-turnaround parallel processing using PC-based computing will significantly leverage any commercialization efforts.