Finite element electromagnetic strategies for sector panel array simulation

Sector panel antenna array designed for high gain, polarization diversity with high power handling have typically been consider too large and complex for rigorous electromagnetic simulation. Thus most are designed through build and test techniques. However recent advancements in finite element method (FEM) techniques such as the domain decomposition method (DDM) and improvements to high performance computing (HPC) hardware have enabled designer to consider and simulate in a rigorous fashion entire panels including all antenna elements, backplane, radome and feed network to provide a comprehensive up front understanding of the design prior to manufacturing. This paper will outline a step by step FEM approach to the design and simulation of a sector panel array starting with single element extraction all the way through to the simulation and modeling of an entire panel including all coupling effects in a rigorous fashion.