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Section 3: Projects, HFSS Design Flow

Getting Started: Ansoft HFSS 8.0

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Synopsis

The Project Manager Definitions Directories Project Configuration Management

The HFSS Executive Level Executive Window

HFSS Design Flow Stages Pre-processing Solution Post Processing

My E-mail: bfjia@uestc.edu.cn

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The Maxwell Project Manager

Analytical modeling efforts using Ansoft software are referred to as “projects”

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

Starting the Maxwell Toolbar:

PC: Use shortcut or Run: “maxwell.exe” from install directory

UNIX: Type “maxwell &” in Xterm window

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The Project Manager Interface

The Project List: Create, Rename, Copy, Move, and Delete Projects

The Directory List: Manage Directories and Directory Aliases for Project Storage

Data regarding the currently selected project

Open the currently selected project

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

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”

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!!!

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

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

Design Flow Checklist

Executive Display Options

Executive Display Window

Model View Display Options

Solution Monitoring Window

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.

3. Define materials used in the model.

4. Define boundary conditions and source excitations for the model

(Optional Step: Define outputparameters for emissions

problems; access ports-onlysolutions.)

5. Set up solution parameters

6. EXECUTE SOLUTION!

7. Review results of analysis Matrix Data and Plot access S-parameters, etc. Fields accesses field visual- ization and calculations

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HFSS Analysis Design Flow

Executive Window ‘checklist’ reflects 3 stages of Project design flow

PRE-PROCESSING 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.)

SOLUTION 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

(User Input)

Define Volume Conditions

(User Input)

Define Surface Conditions

(User Input)

2D Excitation Solution

(Automatic)

3D Mesh Generation

(Automatic, User Input Optional)

Solve 3D Matrix

(Automatic)

View/Plot S-Parameters

(User Input)

View/Plot Fields

(User Input)

PRE-PROCESSING SOLUTION POST-PROCESSING

Define Solution Requirements

(User Input)