Naval

Surface currents on naval vessel, while computing transmission blockage for helicopter on deck

Antenna mounted on ships range from simple HF antennas through to complex radar and EW antennas. Due to their critical functions the performance of these antennas need to be optimised and thus accurately simulated. The limited space available on the upper deck leads to challenges for optimal antenna placement.

Typical issues of concern are:

• Radiation pattern analysis of communication antennas (HF, V/UHF)
  
• Pattern distortion of higher frequency antennas (IFF, Inmarsat, Satcom, Radar, Electronic Warfare) due to shielding by adjacent structures
  
• Antenna coupling or interference
  
• Near-fields from radiation hazard (RADHAZ, personnel, fuel, explosives) point of view
  

Simulation with FEKO can generally be divided into the following classes:

• Small (e.g. Communication antenna in free space): solved using MoM (size, memory)
  
• Medium (e.g. HF communication antenna on platform): solved using MoM (size, memory), might require parallel processing
  
• Large (e.g. UHF communication antenna on platform or electrically large antenna e.g. array antenna for radar): use MLFMM
  
• Huge (e.g. radar frequencies on platform): use MoM/UTD where platform can be represented by flat polygonal plates and MoM/PO or MoM/GO in cases where the flat polygonal plate requirement cannot be satisfied

Aperture blockage for X-band radar mounted in front of main mast		HERP radiation hazard zones next to helicopter with active communications radio	Radiation patterns for helicopter on deck