Workshop 3-12: Reflector

3D Component
Introduction to ANSYS HFSS

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Reflector geometry: creating 3D components
• This example is intended to demonstrate how to draw and parameterize geometry in HFSS 3D UI. We will model a
parameterized geometry for reflector then create 3D component of the modeled reflector to be used in both HFSS-
IE design for Data Link excitation and in HFSS design with hybrid solver.

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HFSS: Getting Started
• Launching ANSYS Electronics Desktop 2016
• To access ANSYS Electronics Desktop, click the Microsoft Start button, select Programs > ANSYS Electromagnetics > ANSYS
Electromagnetics Suite 17.0 > ANSYS Electronics Desktop 2016

• Setting Tool Options

• Select the menu item Tools > Options > General Options…
– Find HFSS-IE line and expand it
• Choose Boundary Assignment window and check all entries
– Find 3D Modeler line and expand it
• Choose Drawing window and make sure the last line is checked
• Find Display line and expand it
– Choose History Tree window and check all entries
– Choose Rendering window and set default transparency to 0.8
• Click the Ok button

Option settings suggested here ensure that the user can consistently follow the steps in the Workshop. A user can prefer his/her own option
configuration.

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HFSS-IE: Getting Started
• Opening a New Project
• In HFSS Desktop, click the  On the Standard toolbar, or
select the menu item File > New
• From the Project menu, select Insert HFSS-IE Design

• Set Model Units

• Select the menu item Modeler > Units
– Select Units: in
– Click the OK button

• Save Project
• Select the menu item File > Save As
– Filename: Reflector
– Click the Save button

• Add variables
• Select the menu item HFSS-IE > Design Properties
– Click the Add button to add unitless variable to define the focus size of reflector in inches
• Name: focus, Unite Type: None, Value: 10
• Click the OK button
– Click the Add button to add unitless variable to define the radius of reflector in inches
• Name: ref_rad, Unite Type: None, Value: 13
• Click the OK button
– Click the OK button

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HFSS-IE: Creating the 3D Model
• Create Reflector
• Select the menu item Draw > Equation Based Curve
– X(_t): 0
– Y(_t): (_t)*(1in)
– Z(_t): (focus-_t*_t/(4*focus))*(-1in)
– Start_t: 0
– End_t: ref_rad
– Number of Points: 0
– Click the OK button
• Select the menu item Edit > Select All
• Select the menu item Draw > Sweep> Around Axis
– Sweep axis: Z
– Angle of sweep: 360 deg
– Draft angle: 0
– Draft type: Round
– Number of segments: 0
– Click the OK button
• To fit the view:
– Select the menu item View > Fit All > Active View.
– Or press the CTRL+D key

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Creating 3D Component for IE design
• Assign PEC
• Select the menu item Edit > Select All
• Select the menu item HFSS-IE > Boundaries > Assign > Perfect E
– Click the OK button

• Rename the object

• from Modeler tree window, select the objects named EquationCurve1
– In the Attribute tab of Properties window, change the name of the object to
reflector

• Create 3D component
• Select the menu item Edit > Select All
• Select the menu item Draw > 3D Component Library > Create 3D Component
– Fill in the form as desired in the Info tab
• Change name of the component to reflector
– Click the Ok button
– File name: reflector_IE_design.a3dcomp
– Click the Save button

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Creating geometry in HFSS design
• Opening a New Design
• From the Project menu, select Insert HFSS Design
– Select the menu item HFSS > Solution Type
– Make sure the solution type is Modal
– Click the OK button

• Set Model Units

• Select the menu item Modeler > Units
– Select Units: in
– Click the OK button

• Copy / Paste geometry into HFSS design

• In the Project Manager window, select and doubleclick on IEDesign1
– Select the menu item Edit > Select All
– Rightclick anywhere in the Modeler window
• Select Edit > Copy from drop down menu
• In the Project Manager window, select and doubleclick on HFSSDesign1
– Rightclick anywhere in the Modeler window
• Select Edit > Paste from drop down menu
• To fit the view:
– Select the menu item View > Fit All > Active View.
Note: Variables are copied with geometry.
Boundary conditions are not copied.

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Preparing geometry in HFSS design
• Assign PerfE boundary and IE Region
• Select the menu item Edit > Select All
• Select the menu item HFSS > Boundaries > Assign > Perfect E
– Click the OK button
• Select the menu item Edit > Select All
• Select the menu item HFSS > Hybrid > Assign Hybrid > IE Regions
– Type: IE Region
– Click the OK button

• Apply Mesh Operations

• Select the menu item HFSS > Mesh Operations > Initial Mesh Settings
–  Apply curvilinear elements to all curved surfaces
– Click the OK button
Note1: This 3D component will be used in HFSS FEM (finite element method)
design. To be included in hybrid solve, the objects that are not inside airbox
should be assigned as Hybrid Region. FEM (finite element method) solver is
used inside the Airbox, and MoM (Method of Moments) solver is used on the
outside of Airbox and on the surfaces of IERegion. To solve using this option,
HFSS-IE license is necessary.

Note2: In this example, the reflector is drawn as a true curvature object. Usage of curvilinear (vs.
rectilinear) mesh elements is efficient for this kind of geometry. Units and mesh operations are
part of the component data. If “ Do Mesh Assembly” option is enabled in the final design, 3D
components are meshed separately and mesh settings defined in 3D component is applied.

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Creating 3D Component for HFSS design

• Create 3D component
• Select the menu item Edit > Select All
• Select the menu item Draw > 3D Component Library > Create 3D
Component
– Fill in the form as desired in the Info tab
• Change name of the component to reflector
– Click the Ok button
– Filename: reflector_IERegion_curvi.a3dcomp
– Click the Save button

Note: 3D components we created, reflector_IERegion_curvi.a3dcomp

and reflector_IEDesign.a3dcomp, will be used in workshop called
“Reflector Antenna”.

9 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. December 22, 2015 Release 2016.0