Recursive matrix schemes for composite laminates under plane-wave and Gaussian beam illumination

Abstract

A full-wave computational model of electromagnetic scattering by composite laminates made of dielectric panels reinforced by periodically arranged circular cylindrical fibers parallel to one another is proposed. Incident plane waves, with plane of incidence possibly differing from the plane orthogonal to the fibers’ axes, and Gaussian beams are assumed. Approaches based on transfer matrices and scattering matrices are developed in parallel, the latter being shown more stable in the present study as expected. In practice, Rayleigh’s and mode-matching methods yield scattering matrices that are cascaded between layers to provide reflection and transmission coefficients, producing power reflection and transmission coefficients from Poynting’s theorem. Typical numerical results, with emphasis on graphite-fiber and glass-fiber laminates, are proposed, completed by results about photonic crystals.