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Moving Window FDTD Propagation Model |
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The
Moving Window FDTD model is based on the 2D finite-difference
time-domain method. This model is used to simulated propagation of
radio waves at UHF and VHF frequencies over irregular terrain. A
vertical plane passing through the transmitter and receivers location
defines the 2D geometry. Modeling propagation over terrain typically
involves long distances. The amount of computer memory and time
required to perform FDTD on the entire path is often prohibitive.
Moving Window FDTD takes advantage of the fact that the radio pulse
width is limited in spatial extent, and only creates computation grid
wide enough to include the radio pulse. As the pulse propagates over
the terrain, the computational mesh is also moved so that the pulse is
always contained in the grid. This allows the method to only calculate
field values in regions where the field is nonzero. Since this method
solves Maxwell's equations directly, it is a full-wave model that
includes all relevant physical processes associated with radio wave
propagation in the 2D environment.
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