Calculation and measurement of the current induced on a conducting rod when illuminated by a dipole

At radio frequencies, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) clearance of aircraft by practical measurement is expensive and becomes a more lengthy process as further electrical and electronic equipment is installed. A means of producing a reduced set of experimental tests is therefore attractive. Complementing such testing by numerical modelling is potentially a useful way of effecting this provided that sufficient confidence is first established and an indication of the likely magnitude of any differences between calculation and measurement is known and the causes understood. The establishment of confidence in numerical techniques would also be valuable at the design stage by virtue of the physical insight which can be generated by numerical experiments. This use in support of synthesizing a new design is important because restrospective treatment of EMC problems has always been expensive. The article outlines some comparisons between calculation and measurement made in the initial stages of a programme aimed at assessing the applicability of numerical modelling as a supplement to measurement for aircraft EMC clearance purposes.