Open-source FDTD solvers: The applicability of Elecode, gprMax and MEEP for simulations of lightning EM fields

Fuente: arXiv
Salvato in:
Dettagli Bibliografici
Autori principali: Kohlmann, Hannes, Kuklin, Dmitry, Rachidi, Farhad, Schulz, Wolfgang
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
Soggetti:
Accesso online:
Tags: Aggiungi Tag
Nessun Tag, puoi essere il primo ad aggiungerne!!
_version_ 1866908577279508480
author Kohlmann, Hannes
Kuklin, Dmitry
Rachidi, Farhad
Schulz, Wolfgang
author_facet Kohlmann, Hannes
Kuklin, Dmitry
Rachidi, Farhad
Schulz, Wolfgang
contents In this study, the open-source finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) solvers gprMax, Elecode and MEEP are investigated for their suitability to compute lightning electromagnetic field propagation. Several simulations are performed to reproduce the results of typical field propagation scenarios that can be found in the literature. The results of the presented solvers are validated through comparison with reference field results corresponding to propagation over perfectly conducting and lossy ground. In most of the tested scenarios, all solvers reproduce the reference fields with satisfactory accuracy. However, close attention must be paid to the proper choice of the spatial discretization to avoid artificial numerical dispersion, and the application of the simulation cell boundaries, which can cause significant impairment of the results due to undesired reflections. Some cases of inaccurate FDTD results due to improper choices of parameters are demonstrated. Further, the features, the performance and limitations, and the advantages and drawbacks of the presented solvers are highlighted. For familiarization with the solvers' programmatical interfaces to initialize and run the simulations, the developed scripts are made available to the community in an openly accessible repository.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_04262
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Open-source FDTD solvers: The applicability of Elecode, gprMax and MEEP for simulations of lightning EM fields
Kohlmann, Hannes
Kuklin, Dmitry
Rachidi, Farhad
Schulz, Wolfgang
Computational Engineering, Finance, and Science
In this study, the open-source finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) solvers gprMax, Elecode and MEEP are investigated for their suitability to compute lightning electromagnetic field propagation. Several simulations are performed to reproduce the results of typical field propagation scenarios that can be found in the literature. The results of the presented solvers are validated through comparison with reference field results corresponding to propagation over perfectly conducting and lossy ground. In most of the tested scenarios, all solvers reproduce the reference fields with satisfactory accuracy. However, close attention must be paid to the proper choice of the spatial discretization to avoid artificial numerical dispersion, and the application of the simulation cell boundaries, which can cause significant impairment of the results due to undesired reflections. Some cases of inaccurate FDTD results due to improper choices of parameters are demonstrated. Further, the features, the performance and limitations, and the advantages and drawbacks of the presented solvers are highlighted. For familiarization with the solvers' programmatical interfaces to initialize and run the simulations, the developed scripts are made available to the community in an openly accessible repository.
title Open-source FDTD solvers: The applicability of Elecode, gprMax and MEEP for simulations of lightning EM fields
topic Computational Engineering, Finance, and Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.04262