An approach for automatic grid generation in three-dimensional FDTD simulations of complex geometries

The finite-different time-domain (FDTD) method has become a popular method in computational electromagnetics because of its simplicity, flexibility, and efficiency. However, the process of generating a three-dimensional (3D) FDTD grid can be time-consuming and error-prone when manually manipulating complex geometries. In order to expedite the generation of FDTD grids, computer-graphics-based methods can alternatively be used. Starting from the geometric description of the problem domain given by a CAD file, an FDTD grid with a specific spatial resolution can be automatically produced. A simple algorithm to this end is discussed, along with sample results.