New paradigms for rigorous modeling and fast solution of large-scale EMC problems

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Naturally or intentionally created Electromagnetic (EM) fields manifest their adverse effects in the form of malfunction or definitive failure of components and systems. Critical infrastructures in general and electrical power systems in particular must ensure continuous and reliable operation when subjected to EM fields generated by different sources such as geomagnetic storm and lightning return stroke current. The detrimental impacts of lightning current and its associated electromagnetic fields -also called lightning electromagnetic pulse (LEMP)- on electrical networks (power system, communication sites and control centers) have long been known. Regarding the geomagnetic fields, a realistic example is the blackout in the Hydro-Quebec power system in 1989 which is attributed to a large solar activity. It is always essential to assess adverse effects of EM fields on electrical power networks, communication systems, oil pipelines, electrified transportation systems and etc. ***The accurate quantification of the above-mentioned EM fields and their adverse effects is viewed as a large-scale Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) problem involving complex propagation media, i.e. inhomogeneous, dispersive ground and irregular terrain. Accurate modeling of such large-scale EMC problem is beyond the capability of the existing computational packages mainly due to their computational performance limitations and modelling effort concerns. ***The objective of this proposal is to develop rigorous and high-performance computational methods for the efficient modeling and solution of stringent large-scale EMC problems. The computational platform accommodates advanced version of numerical methods in electromagnetics such as Finite Difference Time Domain and Method-of-Moments designed and customized for large multiscale EMC problems. The proposed research program therefore aims to develop: (1) a unified computational framework, capable of analyzing realistic problems involving inhomogeneous and dispersive ground, nonlinearities, curved or rough propagation terrain, (2) high-performance computation algorithms used in conjunction with hardware-based parallelization techniques and (3) efficient algorithms for heterogeneous modeling and simulation of interaction among propagated EM fields and complex networks with arbitrary topology and elements. ***The long-term objective of the proposed research program is to provide the scientific community and engineers with advanced, high performance robust tools for full-wave modeling of different types of large-scale EMC problems with particular reference to grounding systems, geomagnetic disturbances, lightning electromagnetic fields and their interaction with complex electrified infrastructures.**************************