5.1 Introduction

As thoroughly discussed in the previous chapters, computational grids have a number of attractive features: they support low-cost, scalable, and flexible HPC environments; guarantee high security standards; offer full opening to Web applications; and boast an intrinsic alignment with new emerging software engineering methodologies. This paves the way to a wide range of possible applications of GC to the world of computational EM.

In Chapter 4, we discussed the use of GC as an innovative solution to EM problems with relevant computational weight. The FDTD simulation of human-antenna interaction problems has been considered as a reference benchmark, and the suitability of GC to support the huge computational effort has been discussed.

In this chapter, we identify another area of application, switching toward different numerical techniques (mainly in the family of method-of-moments approaches) and industrial processes. The addressed application is the CAE of arrays of aperture antennas.

This application represents a more difficult test with respect to the FDTD one in Chapter 4. CAE of aperture antennas, in fact, joins together severe requirements of HPC, with a strong demand for cooperative engineering. GC is asked to satisfy both requests, and in this chapter we explain why it represents an adequate answer.

As Chapter 4 is fully devoted to discussing the viability of HPC with GC, in the present chapter the main emphasis is on cooperative engineering and how to support it in a GC framework.

Coming to CAE of aperture antennas, the analysis and design of...