General solution for propagation, radiation and scattering in arbitrary 3D inhomogeneous structures

A versatile technique for obtaining the full-wave characteristics of structures composed of conductors and dielectrics is described. It involves the replacement of the dielectric regions by an equivalent interlocking array of thin-wall sections, to which appropriate surface impedances are then attributed. Through the use of a two-dimensional rooftop current representation and line-function testing of the electric field, matrix equations appropriate for propagation, radiation, and scattering problems are generated and solved. The focus is on the physical principles, and the usefulness of the approach is demonstrated by solving a wide variety of practical problems.