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HFSS Tutorial

This document provides instructions for using ANSYS HFSS to simulate a microstrip line. It describes how to install HFSS, set up a project, define the geometry of the microstrip including the substrate, ground plane, trace, and excitation ports. It also covers assigning materials, adding an airbox, setting the solution frequency and type, performing a frequency sweep, and plotting and exporting the S-parameter results. The goal is to simulate and analyze an example microstrip line structure.

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MehdiAlborzi
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746 views31 pages

HFSS Tutorial

This document provides instructions for using ANSYS HFSS to simulate a microstrip line. It describes how to install HFSS, set up a project, define the geometry of the microstrip including the substrate, ground plane, trace, and excitation ports. It also covers assigning materials, adding an airbox, setting the solution frequency and type, performing a frequency sweep, and plotting and exporting the S-parameter results. The goal is to simulate and analyze an example microstrip line structure.

Uploaded by

MehdiAlborzi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ECE ILLINOIS

ECE 451: Ansys HFSS Tutorial


Simulate and Analyze an Example of Microstrip Line
Drew Handler , Jerry Yang
October 20, 2014
Introduction
ANSYS HFSS is an industry standard tool for
simulating 3-D full-wave electromagnetic fields.
Students registered in ECE451 can get free access
to ANSYS HF package from the University of Illinois
Software Webstore.
Follow the installation guide* to install the software
on your PC.
*Note: You will need to e-mail your computer name and a copy of the purchase
receipt to [email protected]. Allow 1-2 business days for your computer to be
added to the license pool.
Getting Started
Launch HFSS:
StartAll ProgramsANSYS
ElectromagneticsHFSS
15.0Windows 64-bit (or 32-
bit)HFSS 15.0
Set HFSS options:
ToolsOptionsHFSS
OptionsGeneral Tab
Check Use Wizards for data input
when creating new boundaries
Check Duplicate boundaries/mesh
operations with geometry
Click OK
Getting Started
Set Modeler options:
ToolsOptions
Modeler Options
Operation Tab
Check
Automatically
cover closed
polylines
Check Select
last command on
object select
Drawing Tab
Check Edit
properties of new
primitives
Click OK
Getting Started
Name Project
Project 1 is already created by default
Right click on Project 1Rename
Type a name of your choosing
(helloHFSS, ECE451, tutorial, etc.)
New HFSS
Right click on your
projectInsertInsert HFSS Design
Rename the HFSS Design as microstrip
Getting Started
Set the solution type:
Click on HFSSSolution Type
Select Modal
Click OK
Set Model Unit:
Click on ModelerUnits
Select mil from the drop down menu
Click OK
Creating the Microstrip
We are going to make the substrate (a.k.a
dielectric layer), ground plane, and copper trace
(conductor) for a microstrip line.

http://emlab.uiuc.edu/ece451/appnotes/planar_structures.pdf
To do this, we will make three boxes in HFSS,
and then designate the appropriate dimensions
and material for each box.
Creating the Microstrip
First we are going to define several variables for
the dimensions of our substrate, ground plane, and
copper trace
Select HFSSDesign PropertiesAdd
Fill in the properties as shown below

Click OK
Creating the Microstrip
Repeat the previous steps to create 7 more variables
with the following values:
Substrate_W 1000 mil
Substrate_H 60 mil
Gnd_H 4 mil
Trace_W 114.7mil
Trace_H 4 mil
Waveport_W 419 mil
Waveport_H 115 mil
Using these variables, we will define a 1.00x1.00 board with a 60
mil thick substrate, 4 mil thick ground plane and trace, and 107.4
mil wide trace
**Recall: 1 inch =1000 mil = 25.4mm
Creating the Microstrip (1): Substrate
SelecttheDrawBoxbutton
Creating the Microstrip (1): Substrate
Once you have selected the draw box, move your
cursor into the window the 3D axis shown
Click anywhere, move your mouse in the XY plane,
click again, move your mouse in the Z direction, and
click a third time
You have now created an arbitrary sized box
A window will pop up in which you can define
the dimensions and location of the box
Fill in the location and dimension as shown below
Creating the Microstrip (1): Substrate

Click OK
You may need to zoom out in order to see your box (scroll down with your
mouse to zoom out)
Creating the Microstrip (1): Substrate
You should have a box that looks like this

To change your view in 2D, hold Shift + left click and drag
To change your view in 3D, hold Alt + left click and drag
To fit the view in the 3D modeler window: Ctrl+D
Creating the Microstrip (1): Substrate
This box now has the dimensions that we want for our
substrate. The next step is to define the material of our
substrate.
Double click on Box1 and fill in the properties as
shown below
Details on
next slide
Creating the Microstrip (1): Substrate
Change the name from Box1 to substrate
Change the material from vacuum to FR4_epoxy
Select Edit from the material drop down menu
In the Search by Name box, type in fr
FR4_epoxy should be highlighted
Click OK
Change the color to whatever you want
Change the transparency to 0.8
Creating the Microstrip (2): Gnd Plane
Now we are going to make the ground plane
Draw another arbitrary sized box and fill in the
location and dimension as shown below

Make sure the ground height is negative


Alternatively, you could make the position 0,0,-gnd_H and keep the ZSize
positive
Creating the Microstrip (2): Gnd Plane
Now we have our ground plane with the correct
dimensions and location, but still need to change
the material.
Double click on Box1
Change the name to gnd_plane
Change the material to copper
Change the color
Make the transparency 0.8
Creating the Microstrip (3): Trace
The last part of building our microstrip line is to
add the microstrip trace. To do this, create another
box and fill in the location and dimensions as
shown below.
Creating the Microstrip (3): Trace
Again we need to change the material
Double click on Box1
Change the name to trace
Change the material to copper
Change the color
Make the transparency 0.8
Creating the Excitation
Our model for our microstrip line is almost
complete and ready to simulate. We still need to
define the excitation for our model.
Change the Drawing Plane from XY to ZX
Creating the Excitation
Draw a rectangle (not a box)
Double click on create rectangle and fill in the
position and dimensions as shown below
Creating the Excitation
Draw a second rectangle
Double click on create rectangle and fill in the
position and dimensions as shown below
Creating the Excitation
Right click rectangle 2Assign ExcitationWave Port
Wave Port: General leave the port number 1 and click Next
Wave Port: Modes leave default settings and click Next
Wave Port: Post Processing select Renormalize All Modes and leave
the Full Port Impedance as 50 Ohms
Click Finish

Repeat the steps above to make rectangle 1 Wave Port 2


Creating the Air Box
HFSS treats the space around your design that
hasnt been designated as a specific material as
PEC. Because of this, we need to define an airbox
around our design.
Change the Drawing Plane back from ZX to XY
Draw a box and fill in the values as shown below
Creating the Air Box
Double click on Box1
Rename it as airbox
Change the material to air
Change the color
Make the transparency 0.8
Add Solution Setup
Click on HFSSAnalysis SetupAdd Solution Setup

General Tab:
Solution Frequency: 10 GHz
Maximum Number of Passes: 20
Maximum Delta S: 0.02

Options Tab:
Minimum Converged Passes: 2
Order of Basis Function: Zero Order

Click OK
Add Frequency Sweep
Click on HFSSAnalysis SetupAdd Frequency Sweep
Select Setup1 and click OK
General tab:
Sweep Type: Interpolating
Frequency Setup
Type: Linear Step
Start: 300 kHz
Stop: 6 GHz
Step Size: 0.1 GHz
Click OK
Validation Check and Analyze All
Click on HFSSValidation Check
If everything passes, close the validation check
window and you are ready to run your simulation

HFSSAnalyze All
Plot S-Parameters
Click on HFSSResultsCreate Modal Solution
Data ReportRectangular Plot
Select all 4 S-Parameters and click New Report
Exporting S-Parameters
HFSSResultsSolution DataExport Matrix Data
Reference:
ECE 451: Planar Transmission Lines by Professor Jose E. Schutt Aine
ECE 546: ANSYS HFSS Tutorial by Tianjian Lu

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