Getting Started: Ansoft
HFSS 8.0
Section 3: Projects, HFSS
Design Flow
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Synopsis
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The Project Manager
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The HFSS Executive Level
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Definitions
Directories
Project Configuration Management
Executive Window
HFSS Design Flow Stages
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Pre-processing
Solution
Post Processing
My E-mail:
bfjia@uestc.edu.cn
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The Maxwell Project Manager
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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
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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
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Project Manager Basics

Project Directories can be existing disk directories on your hard
drive, or created as subdirectories to existing directory structure
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When moving or copying projects, begin in the destination directory
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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!!!
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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
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HFSS Executive Window
Executive Display Options
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Executive Display Window
Design Flow Checklist
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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.
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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.)
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HFSS Analysis Design Flow
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Executive Window ‘checklist’ reflects 3 stages of Project design
flow
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PRE-PROCESSING
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SOLUTION
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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.
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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
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