Multiple-grid adaptive integral method for general multi-region problems

textEfficient electromagnetic solvers based on surface integral equations (SIEs) are developed for the analysis of scattering from large-scale and complex composite structures that consist of piecewise homogeneous magnetodielectric and perfect electrically/magnetically conducting (PEC/PMC) regions. First, a multiple-grid extension of the adaptive integral method (AIM) is presented for multi-region problems. The proposed method accelerates the iterative method-of-moments solution of the pertinent SIEs by employing multiple auxiliary Cartesian grids: If the structure of interest is composed of K homogeneous regions, it introduces K different auxiliary grids. It uses the k^{th} auxiliary grid first to determine near-zones for the basis functions and then to execute AIM projection/anterpolation, propagation, interpolation, and near-zone pre-correction stages in the k^{th} region. Thus, the AIM stages are executed a total of K times using different grids and different groups of basis functions. The proposed multiple-grid AIM scheme requires a total of O(N^{nz,near}+sum({N_k}^Clog{N_k}^C)) operations per iteration, where N^{nz,near} denotes the total number of near-zone interactions in all regions and {N_k}^C denotes the number of nodes of the k^{th} Cartesian grid. Numerical results validate the method’s accuracy and reduced complexity for large-scale canonical structures with large numbers of regions (up to 10^6 degrees of freedom and 10^3 regions). Then, a Green function modification approach and a scheme of Hankel- to Teoplitz-matrix conversions are efficiently incorporated to the multiple-grid AIM method to account for a PEC/PMC plane. Theoretical analysis and numerical examples show that, compared to a brute-force imaging scheme, the Green function modification approach reduces the simulation time and memory requirement by a factor of (almost) two or larger if the structure of interest is terminated on or resides above the plane, respectively. In addition, the SIEs are extended to cover structures composed of metamaterial regions, PEC regions, and PEC-material junctions. Moreover, recently introduced well-conditioned SIEs are adopted to achieve faster iterative solver convergence. Comprehensive numerical tests are performed to evaluate the accuracy, computational complexity, and convergence of the novel formulation which is shown to significantly reduce the number of iterations and the overall computational work. Lastly, the efficiency and capabilities of the proposed solvers are demonstrated by solving complex scattering problems, specifically those pertinent to analysis of wave propagation in natural forested environments, the design of metamaterials, and the application of metamaterials to radar cross section reduction.Electrical and Computer Engineerin

Transformation Thermotics and Extended Theories

This open access book describes the theory of transformation thermotics and its extended theories for the active control of macroscopic thermal phenomena of artificial systems, which is in sharp contrast to classical thermodynamics comprising the four thermodynamic laws for the passive description of macroscopic thermal phenomena of natural systems. This monograph consists of two parts, i.e., inside and outside metamaterials, and covers the basic concepts and mathematical methods, which are necessary to understand the thermal problems extensively investigated in physics, but also in other disciplines of engineering and materials. The analyses rely on models solved by analytical techniques accompanied by computer simulations and laboratory experiments. This monograph can not only be a bridge linking three first-class disciplines, i.e., physics, thermophysics, and materials science, but also contribute to interdisciplinary development

Adaptive Semi-Structured Mesh Refinement Techniques for the Finite Element Method

The adaptive mesh techniques applied to the Finite Element Method have continuously been an active research line. However, these techniques are usually applied to tetrahedra. Here, we use the triangular prismatic element as the discretization shape for a Finite Element Method code with adaptivity. The adaptive process consists of three steps: error estimation, marking, and refinement. We adapt techniques already applied for other shapes to the triangular prisms, showing the differences here in detail. We use five different marking strategies, comparing the results obtained with different parameters. We adapt these strategies to a conformation process necessary to avoid hanging nodes in the resulting mesh. We have also applied two special rules to ensure the quality of the refined mesh. We show the effect of these rules with the Method of Manufactured Solutions and numerical results to validate the implementation introduced.This work has been financially supported by TEC2016-80386-

Transformation Thermotics and Extended Theories

This open access book describes the theory of transformation thermotics and its extended theories for the active control of macroscopic thermal phenomena of artificial systems, which is in sharp contrast to classical thermodynamics comprising the four thermodynamic laws for the passive description of macroscopic thermal phenomena of natural systems. This monograph consists of two parts, i.e., inside and outside metamaterials, and covers the basic concepts and mathematical methods, which are necessary to understand the thermal problems extensively investigated in physics, but also in other disciplines of engineering and materials. The analyses rely on models solved by analytical techniques accompanied by computer simulations and laboratory experiments. This monograph can not only be a bridge linking three first-class disciplines, i.e., physics, thermophysics, and materials science, but also contribute to interdisciplinary development

Design optimization of acoustic metamaterials and phononic crystals with a time domain method

A time-dependent adjoint approach for obtaining sensitivity derivatives for shape optimizations of acoustic metamaterials and phononic crystals is presented. The gradient-based design procedure is suitable for large numbers of design variables, and results are shown on achieving effective material properties with a unit cell and the broadband noise reduction with periodic arrays of cylinders. The acoustic wave propagation problem is solved in the time-domain using a Streamline Upwind/Petrov Galerkin formulation. Topology parameterization is accomplished using the homogenization method, and shape optimization is subsequently used afterwards to refine the geometries. Surface parameterization is accomplished using control grids, which are based on a Laplace equation. The combined strategy is compared with penalty-based topology optimization. Furthermore, the proposed topology optimization is also conducted on the design of a broadband acoustic cloaking device

Characterization and Measurement of Passive and Active Metamaterial Devices

This document addresses two major obstacles facing metamaterial development: uncertainty in the characterization of electromagnetic field behavior in metamaterial structures and the relatively small operational bandwidth of metamaterial structures. To address the first obstacle, a new method to characterize electromagnetic field behavior in a metamaterial is presented. This new method is a bistatic radar cross section (RCS) measurement technique. RCS measurements are well-suited to measuring bulk metamaterial samples because they show frequency dependence of scattering angles and offer common postprocessing techniques that can be useful for visualizing results. To address the second obstacle, this document characterizes the effectiveness of an adaptive metamaterial design that incorporates a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) variable capacitor. Applying voltages to the MEMS device changes the resonant frequency of the metamaterial. In this research, computational models show that the size of the adaptive metamaterial unit cell should be increased to improve the responsiveness of the resonant frequency to changes in the MEMS capacitor

From Whitney Forms to Metamaterials: a Rigorous Homogenization Theory

A rigorous homogenization theory of metamaterials -- artificial periodic structures judiciously designed to control the propagation of electromagnetic waves -- is developed. All coarse-grained fields are unambiguously defined and effective parameters are then derived without any heuristic assumptions. The theory is an amalgamation of two concepts: Smith & Pendry's physical insight into field averaging and the mathematical framework of Whitney-Nedelec-Bossavit-Kotiuga interpolation. All coarse-grained fields are defined via Whitney forms and satisfy Maxwell's equations exactly. The new approach is illustrated with several analytical and numerical examples and agrees well with the established results (e.g. the Maxwell-Garnett formula and the zero cell-size limit) within the range of applicability of the latter. The sources of approximation error and the respective suitable error indicators are clearly identified, along with systematic routes for improving the accuracy further. The proposed approach should be applicable in areas beyond metamaterials and electromagnetic waves -- e.g. in acoustics and elasticity.Comment: 23 pages, 10 figure