Ansoft HFSS Version 7
Training
Section 2: Projects, HFSS
Design Flow
smart software for high-frequency design
2-1
Synopsis
The Project Manager
Definitions
Directories
Project Configuration Management
The HFSS Executive Level
Executive Window
HFSS Design Flow Stages
Pre-processing
Solution
Post Processing
smart software for high-frequency design
2-2
The Maxwell Project Manager
■
Starting the Maxwell Toolbar:
Analytical modeling
efforts using Ansoft
software are referred to
as “projects”
■
PC: Use shortcut or Run: “maxwell.exe”
from install directory
UNIX: Type “maxwell &” in Xterm window
■
A “project” consists
of files which define a
model, files which
comprise its solution,
and all files which
comprise data
gathered from that
solution
Projects are created,
accessed, and
managed via the
Project Manager button
on the main Maxwell
toolbar
smart software for high-frequency design
2-3
The Project Manager Interface
Data regarding
the currently
selected project
The Project List:
Create, Rename,
Copy, Move, and
Delete Projects
Open the currently
selected project
The Directory List:
Manage Directories
and Directory Aliases
for Project Storage
Recover selected
project from any
interrupted condition
smart software for high-frequency design
2-4
Project Manager Basics
■
Project Directories can be existing disk directories on your hard
drive, or created as subdirectories to existing directory structure
■
■
When moving or copying projects, begin in the destination directory
■
■
■
■
■
Move and copy permits you to browse to the location of the source;
where the command was begun defines the directory the operation will
move/copy the project to.
A project’s files are managed so that the setup files must go with any
existing mesh and solution data!!!
■
■
Do not confuse a “Project Directory”, which contains many projects, with
“the project’s directory”, the folder containing all the files for a single
project. The latter will have the form “projectname.pjt”
This is intentional, to preserve the configuration from which any solution
was derived.
Editing a project’s setup files may delete meshes and solutions!
To create a variation of an existing solved project, copy the original, and
work on the copy!
Recover should unlock projects in the event of access errors
Reclassify allows updating of projects to newer versions of the same
software
smart software for high-frequency design
2-5
HFSS Executive Window
Executive Display Options
■
■
Executive Display Window
Design Flow Checklist
■
Model View Display Options
Solution Monitoring Window
This is the starting
window seen when
opening an HFSS
Project.
The checklist at the
left accesses project
construction steps
and reflects current
status.
Buttons on the
checklist reflect the
HFSS project design
flow
NOTE: All 3D Display windows in HFSS will have a
BLACK background. This is not currently editable in
HFSS Version 7. Graphical window images have
been inverted for this and all subsequent training
presentations for better paper reproduction.
smart software for high-frequency design
2-6
HFSS Design Checklist
1. Define type of project
Driven is excited
Eigenmode is not
2. Construct the geometry
to be analyzed.
5. Set up solution parameters
3. Define materials used in
the model.
6. EXECUTE SOLUTION!
4. Define boundary
conditions and source
excitations for the model
7. Review results of analysis
Matrix Data and Plot access
S-parameters, etc.
Fields accesses field visualization and calculations
(Optional Step: Define output
parameters for emissions
problems; access ports-only
solutions.)
smart software for high-frequency design
2-7
HFSS Analysis Design Flow
Executive Window ‘checklist’ reflects 3 stages of Project design
flow
■
PRE-PROCESSING
■
■
SOLUTION
■
■
All steps necessary to define the problem space and its characteristics
■ Geometry Construction
■ Material Assignment (set Volume conditions)
■ Source/Boundary Assignment (set Surface conditions)
■ Solution ‘setup’ (desired frequency range, convergence, etc.)
The actual solution of the problem defined in Pre-Processing above.
Most of this step is ‘automatic’
■ Excitation Solution
■ Meshing and Matrix Solution
POST-PROCESSING
■
Evaluation of the results of the model
■ Plot S-parameters, other circuit parameters, field quantities, etc.
■ Generate antenna patterns, RCS response, etc.
smart software for high-frequency design
2-8
HFSS Analysis Design Flowchart
Construct Geometry
2D Excitation Solution
(User Input)
(Automatic)
View/Plot SParameters
Define Volume
Conditions
(User Input)
Define Surface
Conditions
3D Mesh Generation
(User Input)
(Automatic, User Input
Optional)
View/Plot Fields
(User Input)
(User Input)
Solve 3D Matrix
Define Solution
Requirements
(Automatic)
(User Input)
PRE-PROCESSING
SOLUTION
POST-PROCESSING
smart software for high-frequency design
2-9
Pre-Processing: Geometry Definition
Actual Structure
HFSS solves for Field
Behavior
■
■
Modeled
Geometry
(interior air)
Therefore, Geometry must
include all volumes in
which E- and H- fields will
exist
Metals may be treated as
surface conditions only;
thickness need not be
modeled if penetration is
negligible effect (thickness
> skin depth)
Example: For a Waveguide
Tee, we model the air
inside, NOT the actual metal
wall and flanges
smart software for high-frequency design
2-10
Pre-Processing: Geometry Definition, cont.
Interior Air and
Radiation
Volume
■
■
Fed (Port) End
■
Geometry Example Two: For
Antenna Structures, Modeled
Geometry must contain some
volume of air/dielectric into
which fields are intended to
radiate
Pictured Model is 1/4 of a
corrugated conical horn
antenna; contained air shown
as wireframe view
Note: Model would also be
valid without metal horn ‘wall’
present!
■
Wall merely makes
boundary definition easier
smart software for high-frequency design
2-11
Pre-Processing: Material Assignment
(Volume Conditions)
■
Dielectrics and air
inside coax
contains fields
■
(Outer conductor
volume not modeled;
surface conductivity
condition applied to
exterior of dielectric
in next step)
Metal inner conductor
volume left in model,
but interior not solved
All volumes within the modeled space
must have electromagnetic Material
characteristics assigned
■ Note: Objects created as 2D
surfaces can not have material
assignments, as they have no
volume.
Volumes given dielectric properties
will have interior field behavior solved.
Volumes given conductive properties
will most often NOT have interior field
behavior solved.
■ An impedance boundary
condition will be applied to their
exterior surface instead (see
next slide)
■ User option to solve inside for
semiconductors, thickness
considerations
smart software for high-frequency design
2-12
Pre-Processing: Geometry Implications of
Material Assignment
■
LEGAL: Cylinder nests
inside ‘hole’ in box (shown
offset for clarity)
LEGAL: Cylinder split into
two pieces: one inside and
one outside box
ILLEGAL! Cylinder and
box volumes intersect:
which material condition
takes priority in shared
volume???
■
Since all volumes in the model
received material assignments,
care must be taken to prevent
conflicting assignments resulting
from overlapping objects.
■ Volumes may be
‘interlocking’, but not
penetrating one another’s
surface
■ Volumes may be wholly
contained by other volumes
■ Volumes which intersect
prevent the software from
determining which material
applies for the intersected
region
The 3D geometry modeler will test
and warn if overlaps are found
smart software for high-frequency design
2-13
Pre-Processing: Boundary Assignment
(Surface Conditions)
Dielectric substrate
and air above
contain fields
Filter Trace modeled
as 2D object with
conductive boundary
condition
■
Both interior and exterior
surfaces of a model may
have boundary conditions
applied
■
■
■
Ground Plane modeled
by applying conductive
boundary condition to
bottom face of substrate
Symmetry condition
bisects model along
center of trace
Boundary Conditions
influence the way the
fields propagate in the
surrounding volume
Used to simulate metals,
thin-film resistors, ‘freespace’ radiation, or field
symmetry conditions
Example: A model of a
microstrip line might use a
conductive boundary to
represent the metal trace
and ground plane
smart software for high-frequency design
2-14
Pre-Processing: Boundaries, cont.
(Excitation Surface Conditions)
■
■
To solve for field behavior
within a structure, the
behavior must be excited
by some input signal
Inputs are applied as
boundary conditions to
surfaces
■
■
Waveguide walls are
conductive boundaries
Port face, showing
resulting field excitation
(4 ports total, only
one shown)
Exceptions: Plane-waves
(RCS) and Hint (ferrite
biasing) apply to volumes
Example: The waveguide
propagating mode field is
introduced into the hybrid
model by assigning port
excitation boundary
conditions at the end faces
smart software for high-frequency design
2-15
Executive Parameters: Emissions Test
■
An Emissions Test allows
calculation of radiated field
data for different excitation
options during problem
solution
■
■
NOTE: For many HFSS Users, the Emissions Test setup is rarely used.
However, for EMI/EMC analysis (radiated emissions, radiated
susceptibility, etc.) the Emissions Test setup is very important.
The Solution Setup presentation will discuss the fact that field data is
only saved for the final frequency of a Discrete Sweep, making Emission
evaluation at different frequencies difficult ‘after the fact’. The Emission
Test setup permits gathering of radiated field data while the 3D solution is
being processed at each frequency of a Discrete sweep.
■
Radiated Fields can be
requested for different
ranges and surface
profiles
All ports and modes in
the problem can be
excited in any
combination
Radiation can be
computed for any desired
angular step in phi and
theta
smart software for high-frequency design
2-16
Solution: Solution Setup
Provide the desired solution criteria
Frequency for Solution
■
■
Frequency for Adaptive Solution Process
Frequency Range for Sweeps
Convergence Criteria
■
■
Acceptable “Delta-S”
Maximum Number of Adaptive Passes
Type of Solution Desired
■
■
■
Ports Only (excitation parameters only), or
All (full 3D structure solution)
Impedance only (to fill in alternate impedance
definitions)
Pressing the “Solve” button begins the
process defined by the above specifications
smart software for high-frequency design
2-17
Executive Parameters: Port Impedances
Interface is visually
identical to boundary
assignment module
Provides quick access
to Port Solution Field
Displays
■
■
Use after at least a
“Ports Only” solution
has been performed
Verify excited modal
field pattern is
intended one before
evaluating 3D
solution data
smart software for high-frequency design
2-18
Post-Processing: S-Parameters
■
S-Parameters, Impedances,
and Propagation Constants
can be viewed in tabular or
graphical form
■
■
Cartesian and Smith Charts
S-Parameters can be
manipulated to provide other
data
■
■
■
“Deembedding” changes
reference plane locations
“Renormalization” changes
impedance reference for
comparison to measurements
or export to circuit tools
Y- and Z-matrices can be
calculated, displayed, and
plotted
smart software for high-frequency design
2-19
Post-Processing: Field Visualization
■
■
■
■
Field Quantities may be
viewed in magnitude and
vector form, both as
snapshots and
animations
Calculations upon solved
field quantities can be
performed and their
results plotted
Far-Field data (radiation,
RCS patterns) can be
generated and plotted
Example Shown: Mag-E
on substrate and Antenna
Gain Patterns for CPWfed Patch
smart software for high-frequency design
2-20
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