Electromagnetic interference and interaction with complex helicopter structures

Electromagnetic interference and interaction with complex helicopter structures is examined using general purpose electromagnetic codes such as the numerical electromagnetics code (NEC), surface patch (ESP) code and a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) code. The geometry of a generic NASA helicopter model (7:1 scale) is processed using the GEOM which is a general geometry preprocessing code that was developed at Arizona State University. Initially, the interference effect of using two wire antennas on the helicopter is analyzed by examining their effect on the far-field radiation pattern, using the NEC and ESP. Then the FDTD is applied for the simulation of plane wave penetration into the helicopter fuselage which was assumed partially conducting/partially composite