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Electromagnetic Simulation Software

-- tutorial --

December 1, 2016

PHYS 402: E&M 2

Electromagnetic Simulation Software

-- tutorial --

December 1, 2016

PHYS 402: E&M 2

Login to Computer TerminalDo NOT open FEKO

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Principle Numerical 3D EM Methods

Finite Element Method (FEM)Solves Maxwell’s equations in differential form in the frequency domain.

Entire solution volume is discretized, boundary cond. imposed explicitly.

Diff. eq. become large sparse matrix eq.

Solves matrix eq. approximately to get E(ri), and thus B(ri), J(ri), and (ri).

Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD)Solves Maxwell’s equations in differential form in the time domain.

Staggered E and B cubic discretization lattices (MoM/FEM triangle discr.)

Calculate E calculate B time-step forward calculate E, etc …

Method of Moments (MoM)Solves Maxwell’s equations in integral form in the frequency domain.(boundary conditions included in integral)

For discretized volume/surface of sources, integral eq. reduces to a matrix eq.

Solves matrix eq. exactly to get J(ri) and (ri).

Once J(ri) and (ri) are known, then compute E(ri) and B(ri).

Commercial 3D EM Solvers

HFSS (part of ANSYS) primary solver: FEM also uses hybrid MoM-FEM

CST Microwave Studio (by CST) primary solver: FDTD (with some integral eq. solving also).

FEKO (part of Altair Inc.) primary solver: MoM also uses FEM, FDTD, and hybrid MoM-FEM.

COMSOL Multiphysics (AC/DC and RF modules) primary solver: FEM

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Open CADFEKO

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Just in case: Adjusting the Rendering

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FEKO workflow

Constructmodel

InsertSources/Loads

Specify calculation requests

Meshmodel

Solve/Runmodel

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FEKO workflow

Constructmodel

InsertSources/Loads

Specify calculation requests

Meshmodel

Solve/Runmodel

FEKO workflow

Constructmodel

InsertSources/Loads

Specify calculation requests

Meshmodel

Solve/Runmodel

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FEKO workflow

Constructmodel

InsertSources/Loads

Specify calculation requests

Meshmodel

Solve/Runmodel

FEKO workflow

Constructmodel

InsertSources/Loads

Specify calculation requests

Meshmodel

Solve/Runmodel

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FEKO workflow

Constructmodel

InsertSources/Loads

Specify calculation requests

Meshmodel

Solve/Runmodel

Step “Zero”

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FEKO: 3D perspective navigation

Rotation: Mouse-left-click + drag

Zoom: Shift + Mouse-left-click + drag vertical

Translate: Ctrl + Mouse-left-click + drag

Dipole Antenna: Construction definitions

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Dipole Antenna: Construction definitions

Dipole Antenna: Construction definitions

Add 2nd variable

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Dipole Antenna: Construction definitions

Dipole Antenna: Construction definitions

Add “Copper” to model

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Dipole Antenna: Construct Antenna

zoom out to see full antenna

Dipole Antenna: Construct Antenna assign material

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Dipole Antenna: Excitation Source

Dipole Antenna: Excitation Source

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Dipole Antenna: Excitation Source

select

Dipole Antenna: model configuration

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Dipole Antenna: set solution Frequency

30 MHz

Dipole Antenna: Calculation Requests

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Dipole Antenna: Calculation Requests

Dipole Antenna: Calculation Requests

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Dipole Antenna: Mesh the model

Dipole Antenna: Mesh the model

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Dipole Antenna: Mesh the model

re-meshwhenever model

is modified

Dipole Antenna: Mesh the model

Zoom-into see mesh

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Dipole Antenna: Save the model

Dipole Antenna: Solve the model

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Dipole Antenna: Solve the model

Dipole Antenna: Solve the model

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Dipole Antenna: Solve the model

POSTFEKO: Analysis of Solutions

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POSTFEKO: Analysis of Solutions

POSTFEKO: Analysis of Solutions

step 1 step 2

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POSTFEKO: Analysis of Solutions

step 1 step 2

POSTFEKO: Analysis of Solutions

step 1 step 2

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POSTFEKO: Analysis of Solutions

step 1 step 2

Exercises

Calculate the Current and Far-Field (Gain or E-field) for the following:

1. Length = /2 or

2. Length = 3/2, 2, or 5