Numerical Investigation of the Impact of Dielectric Components on Electromagnetic Field Distributions in the Passenger Compartment of a Vehicle

Numerical methods have been used to investigate the possible impact of various dielectric components of vehicles on internal electromagnetic field distributions for frequencies up to 2 GHz. The electrical parameters used in the models were derived from measurements on samples obtained from vehicle components. It is found that the dielectrics investigated have a relatively small impact on the internal field populations due to sources located inside the passenger compartment. Under plane wave illumination from the front, however, the dielectric parts dampen the low frequency resonances, while the glass reduces the internal fields for horizontal polarization. Simulations of lossy materials in a vehicle-like cavity indicate that it may be possible to reduce field levels using readily available materials.