Element-free method for the computation of cutoff wavenumbers of waveguides partially filled with dielectric

Researchers have shown growing interest in mesh free methods, since they can solve partial differential equations numerically only based on a scattered set of nodes inside the analysis domain. These methods are especially attractive for problems in which re-mesh is needed. Recently, we used a mesh free method, element-free (EF) method, based on the moving least square approximation, for the analysis of homogeneous waveguides (Ooi, B.L. et al., IEE Proc. Microwaves, Antennas and Propag.). The EF method does not require laborious and time consuming mesh generation and can achieve higher accuracy than the FEM with the same number of nodes. Mesh free methods also have features like fast convergence, ease of adaptive refinement, trivial raising of the consistency order and the continuity of derivatives up to the desired order. These advantages stimulate us to expand the method for inhomogeneous waveguides. The element-free method is applied to compute the cutoff wavenumbers of waveguides partially filled with dielectric. Variational forms are used to derive the governing equations. Simulation results show that good agreements can be achieved.