Since the dawn of warfare, arms and armor have been locked in a never-ending struggle fordominance. A new development in that struggle is the advent of high-power microwave (HPM) directed-energy weapons (DEWs), which can disrupt electronics remotely with great accuracy without the need to inflict kinetic damage. Given the importance of electronics in modern warfare, the ability to rapidly develop a counter to such weapons will be essential to sustaining military operations. This thesis investigates the use of microwave-absorbent metamaterials for protection against DEWs and proposes a method for the rapid analysis and design of metamaterial structures. The proposed method uses a parameter retrieval algorithm to characterize a complex metamaterial as a simple, homogenized structure. The retrieved parameters can then be applied to a smooth, homogenized layer in a finite element model, which closely approximates the performance of the original metamaterial analyzed. The homogenized layer model requires far less time and effort to simulate than a complex metamaterial unit cell. The retrieved parameters are applicable to simulated scale models as well, thus reducing the need for physical, scale-model prototypes and accelerating the design process to keep pace with rapidly emerging threats.Lieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited
