Lecture 02: Interface and

Modeling Basics

Introduction to Icepak in AEDT

Release 2019 R1
 Launching AEDT Icepak
• Start → ANSYS EM Suite 2019 R1→ ANSYS Electronics Desktop
• Or just click the desktop icon:

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 ANSYS Electronics Desktop – AEDT
• AEDT is a Multiphysics Simulation Environment including EM, Thermal, and Systems
• All models use the common file extension *.aedt, and *.aedtz for compressed archives
• AEDT models can be shared with either the *.aedt or *.aedtz extensions
• AEDT models are not backwards compatible (similar to ANSYS Workbench)
• To create a new Icepak project in AEDT: Project → Insert Icepak Design

OR

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 Open Existing AEDT Model
• Procedure is the same for both *.aedt and *.aedtz file extensions
• File → Open

Default filter includes both

*.aedt and *.aedtz files, as
well as legacy extensions

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 Archive AEDT Model
• The compressed *.aedtz file can contain optional geometry and solution files
• File → Archive Additional files can be anything:
*.docx, *.pptx, *.pdf, etc.

Archive Preview shows all files

Use sparingly to avoid
very large archive file
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 AEDT Icepak Help
• Extensive help is available to learn AEDT Icepak

Web based, and pdf documentation

support.ansys.com

What’s new *.pdf

ANSYS Learning Hub

Learning Hub Link

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 ANSYS Electronics Desktop Interface
Ribbon
Menus
Project
Manager Main GUI
History Window
Tree

Component
Libraries
Property
Window

Message Progress
Window Status Window
Bar
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 ANSYS Electronics Desktop Ribbon Menus
Standard File Operations Copy / Paste Objects Insert Designs Manage Definitions & Variables Help

Copy / Paste Object Visibility Zoom, Pan, Orient, Fit All, etc. Create Cross Sections View Options

Docking Layout Screenshots & Animations

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 ANSYS Electronics Desktop Ribbon Menus
Copy / Paste Object Visibility, Zoom, Pan, etc. Draw & Modify Geometry Grid and Snap Materials

Selection Mode Measure Tools

Same as above 3D Components Geometry Prep & SpaceClaim link

Groups & Lists

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 ANSYS Electronics Desktop Ribbon Menus
Solver, Mesh, & Optimetrics Settings HPC & Job Scheduler Options

Model Validation & Solving

Report Plots & Fields Summary Tables Solution File Management

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 ANSYS Electronics Desktop Ribbon Menus User Recorded Script

Record and Run Scripts Manage ACT Extensions

• Advanced customization is possible through user

created scripts
• Record Script option creates a Python file with all
user operations. This includes geometry creation,
material assignments, boundary conditions, etc.
• It is then straightforward to modify the script with
variables, and loop over multiple design parameters
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 ANSYS Electronics Desktop Interface
• Multiple Windows can be created with many possible configurations
• Window → New Window
• Window →
o Tile Horizontally
o Tile Vertically

• Saving the model will

save the current view
settings

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 ANSYS Electronics Desktop Interface Display Modes

Wireframe without Wireframe with

Enhanced Display Enhanced Display

F6 key shows Wireframe

F8 toggles Enhanced Display

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 ANSYS Electronics Desktop Interface Display Modes
Smooth Shade without Smooth Shade with
Enhanced Display Enhanced Display

F7 key shows Smooth Shade

F8 toggles Enhanced Display

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 Standard Orientations via Alt + Double-Click
• Hold Alt and double-click at the nine locations below to go to standard orientations

Alt + Double-click in any of

these nine dotted areas

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 Saving Custom Orientations
• View → Modify Attributes → Orientation List Right-click → View
→ Apply Orientation
• Or similarly right-click → View → Add new Orientation

Current View Inputs

can be retrieved

Give the view a name

and click add to save

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 Object Properties
• Selecting an object in the History Tree will display its properties

Material specs can be

assigned here directly

“Solve Inside” similar to

hollow block concept

“Model” similar to
Active/Inactive behavior

Display options to change

color, transparency, etc.
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 Object Properties – Solve Inside & Model
• There are three different combinations of “Solve Inside” & “Model”

The object is not

The object is meshed
meshed inside, but has
inside and heat
a surface mesh. This
conduction is solved. The object is not present
property can be used to
This is the default in the simulation. It is in
modify the CFD domain
behavior for new a suppressed state but
and attach boundary
objects, as well as solid can be reactivated at a
conditions to the faces
geometry imports. later time.
of the object.

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 Editing Many Objects at Once
• Use Ctrl and Shift to select multiple objects in the History Tree
• All object properties can be edited in a single operation

Display settings can also be modified

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 Important Options to Help Productivity

Tools → Options → General Options Tools → Keyboard Shortcuts

Almost all commands can have a

custom shortcut. Customization
Override location to place solution files can be saved and loaded to a
files in a more convenient folder fresh AEDT installation.

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 Important Options to Help Productivity
View → Options View → Grid Settings View → Modify Attributes

Hide Coordinate System, show System Triad,

hide Grid and use a Plain Background for
Classic Icepak look and feel
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 Geometry Modeling – MCAD

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Geometry Modeling
• 3D Model Tree provides a list of all Objects, Coordinate systems, Planes and Monitor
points defined in the model
• Create primitives or import external CAD geometry
• Link external geometry using ANSYS SpaceClaim
• Edit properties of objects such as geometry parameters and material properties

Main GUI Window

3D Model Tree

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MCAD Import
• Insert a new Icepak Design
o Import the CAD model using Modeler → Import
o The imported model is shown in the image below:
▪ Note that a fluid region is created by default, during the import

Imported CAD Model

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Geometry Editing Operations
• Most editing operations can be performed by selecting one or more solids, sheets, or edges
and then choosing the appropriate menu option

Sketch Tools Edit Tools Material

Draw Tab
Properties

Edit → Arrange Edit → Duplicate Modeler → Boolean Modeler → Surface Modeler → Edge

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Object Selection, Hide Objects for Defeaturing
• Like other CAD packages, a user can select Vertices,
Edges, Faces or Objects in a model
o Shortcuts for switching between selections are V, E, F
and O respectively

• Options to Show or Hide objects:

o Right-click → View (after entity selection)
o A user can also use the Ctrl+H shortcut after an object
is selected, to hide the selection
o In the ribbons for the View, Draw and Model tabs

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Defeaturing General Notes
• CAD can be used as-is, but the mesh on detailed CAD tends to be much larger than required
• Larger mesh counts = longer run times
• Eliminating fine features and simplifying shapes when possible, will greatly reduce meshing size
and run times
• Most commonly used tools for existing geometry:

Model tab: Simplify (for 3D geometry), Align Faces, Remove Faces

Draw tab: Split

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Model Simplification – Remove Faces
• Change the selection mode to Faces by pressing the F key
• After the surfaces are selected, the available tools for surfaces will highlight in the
ribbon toolbar
• Remove Faces (under the Model tab) will heal the objects and create a simpler shape for
the mesher

Rounded edges
are removed

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Model Simplification – Align Faces
• If needed, to reduce gaps in the model, Align Faces can resize an object by pulling one
face to another
First face chosen is the Static face and Once selected, click on Align Faces (under
second is the one that will be pulled the Model tab) and the CAD will be adjusted

Static Face
Both faces aligned
Face that will be pulled

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Model Simplification – Split
• Split allows a user to slice an object into multiple volumes using a user-specified plane
o First, choose the object that you want to slice
o Select Split (under the Draw tab)
o While you can split by plane, a selection is typically used and all objects are kept

Split fins from the base

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Model Simplification – Bounding Box
• Simplify menu has some quick defeaturing options
to change CAD into more basic shapes
• The first option is the Bounding Box option which
bounds the selected objects and fills in a complete
prism block in the area
• To use the tool, objects must be preselected
• Simplify will then be available under the Model tab
• You can change to Bounding Box under the Simplify
Type (default is highest detail)
• Menus in pop-up change to match the options for
that type
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Model Simplification – Bounding Box
• Pressing OK will create the prismatic solid region from the original shapes
o Note: All Simplify features will appear as a listing under the object in the tree

o Deleting the Simplify operation under each object will revert the geometry back
to its original form

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Model Simplification – Primitive Fit
• As in the previous option, objects must be preselected
o Best to choose objects where there are a limited number of available cut surfaces

• The same Simplify ribbon location can be used to choose the primitive fit
o Note: menu will change to more detailed options than Bounding Box

• The object is broken into multiple prismatic and cylindrical objects to simplify the mesh shape

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Model Simplification – Primitive Fit
• Cleanup option will try to delete most curved features from the model and simplify the
object as a whole
• Allow splitting option will slice the model into more basis shapes, clean them up and then
Unite them back together
o Result is a CAD defined object

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Model Simplification – Primitive Fit
• Non History option slices the object into as many prisms and cylinders as it needs but keeps
all objects as individual parts
o This also overwrites and changes the original CAD
• Clone original objects before operation leaves an additional version of the original object in
addition to the new ones
• Objects can be cloned before using Simplify to retain the history of the original part

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Model Simplification – Polygon Fit
• If a shape is able to be extruded along a global axis, the polygonal fit may be used to simplify
the shape
• It is recommended to choose a through-plane axis to ensure the proper face is drawn
• Polygon Fit uses the outline of the object to create a new shape (interior “holes” may be
ignored but can be accounted for in material priority)

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Model Simplification – Polygon Fit
• If curves edges aren’t captured as smoothly as needed, refinements are built-in to increase
the number of vertices on longer arcs
o Note: Undo the previous change before re-applying the new settings

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 Geometry Modeling – ECAD

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General PCB Notes
• PCBs are complex structures primarily made of layers of copper and a dielectric material
• Copper traces and vias may have dimensions much smaller than the overall dimension of
the PCB (large size discrepancies)
• Discretely modeling all parts is computational expensive, especially when not needed
• It is recommended that you choose the level of detail in your model that will give
accurate results without exorbitant mesh and run times

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IDF Import
• IDF files can be imported directly into an Icepak design
• IDF 2.0 and IDF 3.0 versions are supported

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IDF Import
• Options to:
o Filter out components (by height and power)
o Specify trace layer thicknesses for board thermal conductivity calculation
o Simplify board and components as rectangular objects

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PCB Modeling Options in AEDT Icepak
Model Accuracy Mesh Size Effort Needed Application
Solid Body Low Small (few thousand at Minimum: Approximate System/board level – little
1 highest) Anisotropic Material Property information available or
needed for lumped layers. OK for most heat leaves through
models where PCB does not carry heat sinks
much heat (most leaves through
heat sinks, etc.).
Multiple Solid Body Low to medium Small-Medium (up to 100’s of PCB must be sliced between each System/board – if metal
2 (one body per layer) thousands) layer and approximate Anisotropic percentage per layer is
Material needed for each later available but layout is not
yet complete
PCB Component Accurate Medium-High (low millions) Little effort with proper ECAD file: Board-level analysis, multi-
3 (Recommended for accuracy temperature and Trace and via information physics applications
and optimized mesh counts) metal distribution projected directly into the layers
of the PCB object. Metal is
localized to individual regions on
individual layers. Conductivity
accuracy is dependent on mesh
size.
Discrete modeling of all Extremely accurate Huge (10’s of millions) Maximum effort. Mechanical CAD Individual wire Joule
4 internal PCB parts model of the PCB or substrate heating. Full-detail HFSS-
must be discretely meshed. Large Icepak modeling.
meshing and run times. Larger
hardware needed for simulation.
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 PCB Modeling Options in AEDT Icepak
1 Solid Body 2 Multiple Solid Bodies

3 PCB Component 4 Explicit Modeling

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PCB Component in AEDT Icepak: Trace Mapping using Gridcut Approach
• Gridcut
o Uses metal fractions to estimate the conductivity vector at each point in the mesh
o Metal fraction computed on a separate background Cartesian grid

• Benefits
o Reduces mesh complexity Black lines are CFD mesh. BLUE squares are pure FR4.

o Faster Solvers RED squares are pure Cu.

o Simplifies Automation

CFD Max element size Y Here 16 gridcut cells are used to compute
the conductivity for each CFD cell. gridcut row size

CFD Max element size X gridcut column size

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 Simple PCB Models
• Create either one block for the whole PCB or one block per PCB layer
• For each block, right-click and choose Assign Material
• Click Add Material to create your own material and add to the library

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 Simple PCB Models
• Turn on All Properties and Thermal under physics
• Change the Thermal Conductivity type to anisotropic (orthotropic is a planar variation of this)
• Enter in-plane and through-plane effective values
• Note: Even if you are solving steady-state, a non-zero value is needed for Mass Density and
Specific Heat

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 Simple PCB Models – Orthotropic Thermal Conductivity Calculation
• The in-plane and normal-to-plane conductivity values may be calculated as follows:
kin-plane = S(kiti) / Sti)
knormal = Sti / S(ti/ki)
ki = fi*kcu or ki = kFR4
where,
fi = fractional coverage of copper
k = conductivity of a layer (W/mK)
t = thickness of a layer (m)

• Enter in-plane and through-plane effective values

• The same calculation can be used for individual layers

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 PCB Component – PCB Detail without Discrete Internals
• Step 1: Import ECAD file using File > Import or File > Open
• Step 2: Insert a new Icepak Design if there is none. If you already have an Icepak Design,
proceed to Step 3

• Step 3: Right-click 3D Components and select Create > PCB

• Step 4: Enter the PCB name, company and model number (optional)
• Step 5: Click Setup Link to specify the ECAD source

• Step 6: Enable Use This Project to use the ECAD data imported earlier as the source

• Step 7: Specify the power dissipation for the PCB

• Step 8: Choose the grid cut resolution and click Finish to complete the import

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 ECAD Import Formats
• ECAD files can be imported into AEDT using File > Import or File > Open
• AEDT supports different ECAD formats: EDB, ANF, ODB++, Gerber etc.

File > Import File > Open

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 Step 1
• Import ECAD file File > Import or File > Open

• This imports the ECAD file in a new HFSS 3D Layout Design

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 Step 1 - Continued
• In HFSS 3D Layout, go to Layout > Layers to open the Edit Layers panel
• Make sure that the material assignments are correct for the metal and dielectric layers
• The electromagnetic, thermal properties of these materials can be checked under
Definitions > Materials in the Project Manager

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 Step 2
• Insert an Icepak Design in one of the three ways below
• If you already have an Icepak design within the same Project, proceed to Step 3
1. Desktop tab > Icepak 2. Project > Insert Icepak Design 3. Right-click Project > Insert Icepak Design

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 Step 3
• Expand Icepak Design, and right-click 3D components. Select Create > PCB

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 Step 4
• Enter the PCB name, company and model number (optional)

• Click Next

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 Step 5
• Click Setup Link to specify the ECAD source
o Enable Use This Project to automatically select the ECAD Source

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 Step 6
• The Source Design and Source Solution fields are automatically populated after enabling
the Use This Project option
• Under the Settings tab, you can choose whether to draw the PCB outline as a polygon or
a generic prism
• Click OK on the Setup Link panel and click Next on the PCB Component panel

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 Step 7
• If needed, specify the power dissipation in the PCB (optional for volumetrically
distributed internal heating)
• Click Next

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 Step 8
• Choose the grid cut resolution and click Display to view the metal fraction
• Click Finish to close the PCB Component panel
Coarse Medium Fine

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 Step 8
• The PCB object will be created
• Each layer is modeled separately

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Metal Fraction Display
• To review or change the metal fraction, right-click on the PCB component in the History
Tree and select Edit Definition
• In the PCB Component panel, click Next until you get to the Metal Fraction step
• Select the Resolution, Layer and click Display to view the metal fraction
• Sharper images indicate more accurate metal distribution
 Detailed Trace Import PCB Imaging
• To make the PCB to look more realistic, right click on the PCB object (under the PCB drop-
down) and select Properties
• Under the Visualization tab, check all layers under Value that you wish to display

Metal layers will be shown as solid-filled

drawings and vias will show as 3D objects
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 Explicit Modeling of traces in AEDT Icepak
• Use ANSYS SpaceClaim as preprocessor
o Import board file into ANSYS SpaceClaim
o Open Icepak in an AEDT project
o Go to Modeler → SpaceClaim Link → Browse, and select the SpaceClaim file
o While all geometries are in full-3D, work to make a good mesh. Time for solver runs will be much
higher.

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Thank you!