Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
(technical part)
Ben-Gurion University.
Course “Antennas and Radiation”.
Maksim Berezin
What is the HFSS?
For most practical problems, the solution to Maxwell’s equations requires a
rigorous matrix approach such as the Finite Element Method (FEM) which
is used by Ansoft HFSS.
For these expressions to be valid, it is assumed that the field vectors are:
single-valued,
bounded, and have a
∂B
continuous distribution (along with their derivatives) ∇× E=−
∂t
Along boundaries of media or at sources,
∂D
Field vectors are discontinuous ∇×H = J +
Derivatives of the field vectors have no meaning ∂t
∇⋅D= ρ
∇⋅B=0
Boundary Conditions define the field behavior across discontinuous boundaries
Why do I Care?
They Force the fields to align with the definition of the boundary condition
As a user I should be asking
What assumptions, about the fields, do the boundary conditions make?
Are these assumptions appropriate for the structure being simulated?
Model Scope
To reduce the infinite space of the real world to a finite volume, Ansoft HFSS automatically
applies a boundary to the surface surrounding the geometric model
Outer boundary
Default Boundary: Perfect E
Model Complexity
To reduce the complexity of a model, the boundary conditions can be used to improve the:
Solution Time
Computer Resources
Surface Approximations
Perfect E or Perfect H Surface Largely the users responsibility
Finite Conductivity Surface
Impedance Surface
Symmetry Planes
Radiation Surface
Material Properties
Boundary between two dielectrics
Transparent to the user
Finite Conductivity of a conductor
Surface Approximations
Perfect E – Forces the electric field perpendicular to the surface
Outer Surface – Default Boundary Perfect E Surface
PEC/Perfect Conductor Material Property
Model complexity: Reduced by eliminating conductor loss
Perfect H Surface
Perfect H – Forces the electric field tangent to the surface
Full Model
Surface Approximations (Continued)
Radiation Surface – Allows waves to radiate infinitely far into space.
The boundary absorbs wave at the radiation surface
Can be placed on arbitrary surfaces
Accuracy depends on
The distance between the boundary and the radiating object
The radiation boundary should be located at least one-quarter of a wavelength
from a radiating structure. If you are simulating a structure that does not radiate,
the boundary can be located less then one-quarter of a wave length (The validity
of this assumption will require your engineering judgment).
The incident angle
The radiation boundary will reflect varying amounts of energy depending on the
incidence angle. The best performance is achieved at normal incidence. Avoid
angles greater then ~30degrees. In addition, the radiation boundary must remain
convex relative to the wave.
Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) – Allows waves to radiate infinitely far into space.
Not a Boundary Condition. Fictitious materials that fully absorb the electromagnetic fields
impinging upon them. These materials are complex anisotropic.
Types
Free Space Termination or Reflection Free Termination
Can only be placed on planar surface
Model complexity: They do not suffer from the distance or incident angle problems of
Radiation boundaries but should be place at least one-tenth of a wave length from
strong radiators
Surface Approximations (Continued)
Infinite Ground Planes – Simulate the effects of an infinite ground plane
Only affects the calculation of near- or far-field radiation during post processing
Types: Perfect E, Finite Conductivity, or Impedance Surface
Excitation Types
Wave Port (Waveguide) – External
Recommended only for surfaces exposed to the background Port 1
Supports multiple modes (Example: Coupled Lines) and deembedding
Compute Generalized S-Parameters
Port 4
Measurements
Frequency dependent Characteristic Impedance (Zo)
Constant Zo Perfectly matched at every frequency
Port 3
Lumped Port – Internal Port 2
1
∇ × ∇ × E ( x, y ) − k02ε r E ( x, y ) = 0
µr
where:
E(x,y) is a phasor representing an oscillating electric field.
k0 is the free space wave number,
µr is the complex relative permeability.
εr is the complex relative permittivity.
To solve this equation, the 2D solver obtains an excitation field pattern in the form of a phasor
solution, E(x,y). These phasor solutions are independent of z and t; only after being multiplied
by e-γz do they become traveling waves.
Also note that the excitation field pattern computed is valid only at a single frequency. A
different excitation field pattern is computed for each frequency point of interest.
Excitations (Continued)
Modes, Reflections, and Propagation
It is also possible for a 3D field solution generated by an excitation signal of one specific
mode to contain reflections of higher-order modes which arise due to discontinuities in a high
frequency structure.
If these higher-order modes are reflected back to the excitation port or transmitted onto
another port, the S-parameters associated with these modes should be calculated.
If the higher-order mode decays before reaching any port—either because of attenuation due
to losses or because it is a non-propagating evanescent mode—there is no need to obtain the
S-parameters for that mode.
Perfect E
Perfect H
Perfect H
Perfect E
Excitations (Continued)
Excitation – Calibration
Ports must be calibrated to ensure consistent results. Determines:
Direction and polarity of fields
Voltage calculations.
Mode 1
(Even Mode) Integration Line
Mode 2
(Odd Mode) Integration Line
Port1 Port2
Modes to Nodes Modal
Transformation 2 Modes 2 Modes
T1 T2
SPICE T1 T1
Differential Pairs
Port1 Terminal Port2
T2 T2
Example Structure
Coax to Stripline
LAYER 2 (SIGNAL)
air
smetal
Surface Approximations
Background or Outer Boundary
Not visible in the Project Tree
Any object surface that touches it Perfect E Boundary
Default boundary applied to the region surrounding the geometric model
Model is encased in a thin metal layer that no fields propagate through
outer
Override with
Radiation Boundary
What Port Type Should I Use?
Example is easy decision
Port touches background (External)
Cross Section is Coax (Enclosed Transmission Line)
Wave Port
Solution Type: Driven Terminal
SPICE Output
Uniform cross-
cross-section
Rule of Thumb: 5x
Critical Distance