Simulating a Faraday Cage

[Paul Brooke]

Hi guys,

I'm wanting to simulate faraday cage form, analysing mesh perforations defined by wavelengths of different electromagnetic spectra (eg. radio, microwave, UV etc).

Are there any good analysis softwares which I could import a pre-made digital model with these perforations and simulate different wavelengths and frequencies of EM waves towards the models to analyse the interference?

It doesn't need to be a crazy convoluted software, just something simple to analyse reflection, refraction or absorption.

Thanks so much!
Paul

 

[DrClaude]

To simulate a real material with holes, I think that you will need some more heavy duty software, such as COMSOL.

 

[tech99]

Mesh is used extensively for EMC purposes and I am sure all the performance information already exists.
A typical product, together with performance figures is found at the following URL:-
https://hollandshielding.com/Mesh-foil-for-window-shielding

 

[Baluncore]

Think of a hole in the mesh as being an iris, a slot antenna or a reduction of sheet conductivity.
Then for the low and the high frequency extremes, the transmission and reflection characteristics can be simply analysed.

Things get very interesting in the transition region where there can be interference, that is when either the hole size or separation is say between λ/60 and 60⋅λ. You will need to analyse the scattering of one aperture element, then combine all, as a 2D array of antenna elements.

It is normal practice to over-engineer Faraday screens for the band of interest. Prediction of the actual scattering in the transition zone is not really important, only the worst case constructive interference beam or lobe need be considered.

Each part of the analysis may require different software.