Experimental validation of reliability-based design optimization models for designing EMI shielding and absorbing structures

This paper aims to comprehend and demonstrate the validity of the theoretical models proposed recently for designing electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding [Gargama H, Chaturvedi SK, Thakur AK. Reliability-based design optimization scheme for designing electromagnetic shielding structures. J. Electromagn. Waves Appl. 2014;28(6):765–776] and absorbing structures [Gargama H, Chaturvedi SK, Thakur AK. Reliability-based design optimization of broadband microwave absorbers. J. Electromagn. Waves Appl. 2013;27:1407–1418]. Initially, the composites of polyvinylidene fluoride comprising varying concentration of nickel, iron, iron oxide, and activated carbon are prepared through compression hot-molding technique. Subsequently, the number of composite layers and the desirable material parameters for each of the layers are optimized using the composite’s database for a three layered EMI shielding and absorbing structures. The structures are fabricated and evaluated for the performance as an EMI shield and absorber for electromagnetic waves considering their state of polarization and angle of incidence on the designed structures. A comparison and a close agreement within an acceptable error of the theoretically optimized and experimentally realized parameters are the real strength of this work.