TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Sensors, Electronics, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 231, E-2 Hawkeye; PMA-234, EA-6B Prowler, PMA 265, F-18 Hornet

OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative improvements to the performance of high-frequency, hybrid, computational electromagnetics codes, and validate the updated code through a judicious choice of antenna-in-situ benchmark cases.

DESCRIPTION: The goal of physics-based installed antenna simulation tools is to allow analysts to accurately predict the performance of antennas when mounted on platforms with realistically complex shapes and materials. The performance metrics include installed antenna pattern, near-field radiation distribution, and cosite coupling. The physical extent of the platform can vary from sub-wavelength to thousands of wavelengths. Modern implementations of full-wave methods such as the method of moments (MoM), finite-difference time-domain (FDTD), and finite element method (FEM) have been shown to be effective in predicting installed antenna performance for platform sizes ranging up to tens of wavelengths. Full-wave methods, however, scale poorly with problem size, and beyond this point, they are no longer practical. When this threshold is reached, analysts often turn to asymptotic or hybrid asymptotic/full-wave codes, whose approximate methodologies offer better scaling with problem size.

Innovative improvements to asymptotic and hybrid solvers are needed that focus on the types of problems that have posed challenges to asymptotic and hybrid solvers in the past, such as creeping wave implementation for realistically complex platforms, accurate prediction of input impedance when strong geometric interactions are present, multi-bounce/multi-diffraction mechanisms on complex platforms, and complex inhomogeneous materials and treatments. New physics based methods and algorithms are needed to capture the physical mechanisms of specific problems that will be identified by the government. Such enhancements and additions should work harmoniously with the core methodologies of the chosen solver(s), comparisons should be made between the asymptotic and hybrid solvers with measurements as well as full-wave solutions (where possible) for a set of benchmark problems. As shortcomings in existing methods/algorithms are identified, they should be investigated and revised as necessary to provide good comparison with the benchmark solutions. The ultimate goal of this project is a close match between measurements and simulations as generated by the modified asymptotic and hybrid solvers developed under this effort for high-frequency antennas installed on Navy aircraft. Proposing companies must have access to source code of an antenna simulation asymptotic/hybrid code. This code must be in an advanced stage of development. Its capabilities must be presented in the proposal clearly and in detail.

The result of this effort should be a validated antenna analysis tool that can be used for a wide range of installed antenna problems with a high degree of confidence.

PHASE I: Demonstrate proof of concept algorithm design improvements to asymptotic or hybrid solver code and design validations tests to be performed in Phase II.

PHASE II: Finalize and validate the innovative algorithms developed in Phase I to the asymptotic or hybrid solver code, including necessary changes to the graphical user interface (GUI) to support the new features. Perform an iterative series of validation and code improvement exercises until the asymptotic or hybrid solvers provide good agreement for the benchmark cases developed in Phase I.

PHASE III: Deliver the analysis tool with thorough end-user documentation to the Navy and provide on-site training. Develop a commercial-grade application suitable for simulating a wide variety of commercial and military systems.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The technology developed under this topic has direct utility in a wide variety of commercial and military applications, such as communications and navigation.

REFERENCES:
1. Kolundzija, B. M., & Djordjevic, A. R. (2002). Electromagnetic Modeling of Composite Metallic and Dielectric Structures. Artech House.

2. Taflove, A. & Hagness, S. C. (2005). Computational Electrodynamics: The Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method, 3rd Edition. Artech House.

3. Jin, J. (2002), The Finite Element Method in Electromagnetics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

4. Ufimtsev, P. Ya. (2007), Fundamentals of the Physical Theory of Diffraction. Wiley-Interscience.

5. Kouyoumjian, R. G. & Pathak , P. H. (1974), A uniform geometrical theory of diffraction for an edge in a perfectly conducting surface, Proceedings of the IEEE, (62), 1448-1461.

KEYWORDS: Computational electromagnetics; antennas; modeling and simulation; high frequency; hybrid; validation

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between July 20 and August 16, 2010, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting August 17, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (10.3 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 10.3 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.