FDTD Simulation and Experimental Comparative Study of a Gasket's Shielding Effectiveness Characterization: Dipole Vs. Log-Periodic Antenna

This article presents a comparative analysis of the characterization of the shielding effectiveness of gaskets using either a tuned dipole antenna (IEEE Std. 299) or a log-periodic antenna (MIL DTL 83528 G), following the specifications outlined in the relevant standards. Our study integrates both 3-D full-wave simulations using the finite-difference-time-domain solver and experimental validation within the frequency range of 200 MHz–1 GHz. In the simulations, near-field sensors representing external antennas were utilized to assess the gasket's shielding performance at various angles and locations. Additionally, the simulations explored the variability in shielding effectiveness when employing both antennas. For the experimental set-up, only the impinging angle of 0$^{\circ }$ was considered to calculate the gasket's shielding effectiveness. The study demonstrates a good level of correlation between numerical simulations and experimental validation, revealing that tuned dipole and log-periodic antennas exhibit similar behaviors in terms of shielding effectiveness. Finally, the article emphasizes that despite the recommendation in the IEEE Std. 299 to use tuned dipole antennas, log-periodic antennas can be equivalently utilized due to their ease of use and practical perspective.