How to use the Array Task
SIMULIA CST Studio Suite® 2022
Outline
This document aims to cover a wide range of useful features that the Array task has to offer.
Simple dipole antennas (see attached models) are used to demonstrate the simulation
workflows, where the following topics are covered:
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1. Array task basic setup
2. Unit Cell project
3. Full Array project
4. Array simulation by zones
5. Multiple excitation lists
6. Connected circuits
7. Arbitrary element models
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1. Array Task
Create an Array Task
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Start with the single antenna
element and create an Array Task
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Create an Array Task
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This opens the Schematic environment where
the task is located and further tools are
available for the array configuration.
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Create an Array Task
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Select an excitation pattern
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for the amplitude distribution
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Create an Array Task
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View the amplitude distribution
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2. Unit Cell (Infinite Array)
Large Antenna Arrays
The larger the antenna array the better its performance can be approximated by an infinite
array of the same elements. Edge effects of a finite array can further be reduced by using the
appropriate magnitude taper over the excitation distribution.
In CST Studio Suite the Unit Cell boundaries can be used to emulate an infinite array with all
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elements driven simultaneously.
This simulation produces:
Active Element Patterns
Active Element Impedances
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Unit Cell Simulation Project
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3a 3b 3c
The default simulation Enter the scan angles for The monitors from the master
settings are correct the Unit Cell calculation project are already present
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Unit Cell Simulation Project
Notice that the Unit Cell boundaries are
automatically set up and fully parameterized
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Unit Cell Simulation Project
Parameters with a prefix “PAA” are created to
control the different array properties
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Scan parameters are created to enforce the
direction of propagation of the fundamental
radiating modes (TE00 and TM00)
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Unit Cell Simulation Project
4 At the frequency of interest all the
higher-order modes are evanescent
for this Floquet port. Therefore limit
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the number of calculated modes to 2.
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Unit Cell Simulation Project
Note that only the element
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ports will be excited.
5 Execute the parameter sweep
where the Unit Cell scan angles
are already specified
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Unit Cell Simulation Results
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The active element pattern is constructed
from the transfer coefficients of the
fundamental Floquet modes
Notice the scan
blindness
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Unit Cell Simulation Results
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Total reflection at the
“blind” scan angle
All the active S-parameters
are presented as 2D color
plots over the scan angles
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Array Factor Post-Processing
The Array Factor can also be applied to the element
pattern if needed. Use the “PAA_FA_SCAN*”
parameters that are preconfigured to steer the beam in
post-processing. Note that for this example a higher
resolution of the element pattern may be needed.
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3. Full Array
Full Array Simulation Project
6a
Go back to the task to create a
new project for the finite array
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Note that the frequency
solvers are also available
for the simulation project
6b
Click “OK”
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Full Array Simulation Project
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6c Select the operating
frequency at 3 GHz
Notice that different options
are available for exciting the
full array. More on that later.
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Full Array Simulation Project
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7 New parameters are created
for the full array. Set the scan
parameter θ=30˚.
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Full Array Simulation Project
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Notice that the simultaneous excitation list
is automatically set up by the task with the
appropriate amplitude and phase values.
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Full Array Simulation Results
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Farfield result of the finite array
scanned to θ=30˚ and φ=0˚.
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Full Array Simulation Results (Additional)
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Notice the gain drop in the Phi=90 plane. This is
due to energy coupling into a surface wave that
causes end-fire radiation. The Unit Cell simulation
showed scan blindness for this direction, which
will become more pronounced as the number of
elements are increased in the finite model.
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4. Array Simulation by Zones
Combined Results
The embedded element patterns of a finite array can be
summed up with different weights in a post-processing step.
The Array Task automatically sets up a special “Combine
Results” template to do this operation. Here the pattern
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summation applies a complex weight to each farfield result
according to the excitation list of the task (including the
phase for scanning).
The task provides two options in this regard:
All ports sequentially excited
Only specific ports excited
according to grouping
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Simulation by Zones
Not all elements need to be excited to quickly approximate an array farfield pattern that
includes the effects of a finite layout. This principle is well understood in measuring a large
number of elements.
The solution is to reuse certain embedded element patterns to reduce the number of excited
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ports. This approach is available with the Array Task where elements can be grouped together
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Only one reference pattern
is calculated per group.
1 3
Layout divided into groups of elements Array farfield pattern reconstructed
that have similar embedded patterns. according to the grouping layout
E.g. in this case we have 9 groups.
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Create Element Groups
2
With Array2 selected, switch to the
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Group View and make sure the type
is set to “Simulation Zones”
1
Right-click on the task Array1 and
select “Duplicate” (the duplicated
simulation projects can be deleted)
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Create Element Groups
3
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Set the Element Symmetry for this
dipole model which will reduce the
number of required simulations
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Create Element Groups
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4a
Click and drag over
elements to select
4b Group elements
the first group
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Create Element Groups
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Select the element that best
represents its group and
“Mark as Reference”
Note that elements with bracket [ ]
annotations will provide the reference
embedded pattern for each zone.
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Create Full Array Simulation Project
6a
Create a new Full Array
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6b Select the “Group” option for
the simulation zone settings
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Simulation by Zones Results
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After executing the solver the
following embedded element
farfields and reconstructed array
farfields are available:
Note that one can now simply
change the scan parameters
and update the result templates
to get a new reconstruction of
the array pattern.
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Simulation by Zones Results
Here is a comparison of the farfield results with a larger array model, where one is with grouping
and the other where all elements are excited. Note that the simulation by zones is simply an
approximation and its accuracy is highly dependent on the embedded patterns chosen to
represent the groups.
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5. Multiple Excitation Lists
Multiple Excitation Lists
1a
1b
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Open the
Excitation Pattern Select “Multiple
settings for Array2 Excitations” as the Pattern
1c Import the TSV files with
different excitation distributions
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Multiple Excitation Lists
2a
Go to the Simulation by Zones
project and set the scan
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parameters to zero.
3b
Create a Parameter Sweep over the
excitation list index values, set the
type to “Template Based
Postprocessing” and start the run
Note that the parameter “PAA_FA_EXCITELIST” is
used to select the excitation list. This serves as
an index parameter of integer values.
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Multiple Excitation Lists Results
The provided TSV files contain different array excitation lists that have the following
characteristics (in order of its index):
1. Uniform excitation distribution
2. Taylor amplitude taper that lowers the sidelobe level to -20 dB
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3. Broadside null typically used in monopulse tracking radars
4. Fan beam created by exciting only the elements in the centre two columns
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Excitations Viewer
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The Excitations Viewer is a useful
feature to visualize the active
excitations of any simulation project.
Here the phase distribution of Full
Array2 using list 3 is displayed.
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6. Connected Circuits
Matching Network Circuit
The printed dipole is designed for a 74Ω port impedance. In this example a matching network is
configured to transform the signal to a 50 Ω port impedance.
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1
Create the following simple matching
network in the antenna model’s schematic.
Add an inductor and capacitor with the
initial parameter values set to L1=0 and
C1=0, respectively.
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Full Array Project with Connected Circuit
2a Create an Array task 2b Create a Full
with a smaller layout Array project
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2c
Select all the circuit
components, set the to
Schematic Model in the ribbon
and Create Simulation Project
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Full Array Project with Connected Circuit
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2d
In the Array Settings tab
activate the inheritance of
schematic parameters 2e
Select sequential excitation so that
all the port signals are calculated
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Full Array Project with Connected Circuit
In the new project the schematic is automatically configured for the 16 element array model. The
original circuit is placed in an Array Block that provides an instance for each antenna port. As a
consequence the connections on the schematic make use of 16 channel busses to connect
between the multi-pin blocks.
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Full Array Project with Connected Circuit
3a
Delete the bus port and add a
Power Divider component with
16 branches and a single port.
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3b
Create both a S-
Parameters and AC
Combine Results tasks
3c
In the Task Parameter List of AC1, set
a standard signal for the excitation of
port 1 and activate Combine Results
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Full Array Project Results
4a 4b
Execute only the SPara1 Set the matching network
task and notice that the inductors to 3nH and capacitors
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input match is fairly poor to 0.4pF for all the circuit
– as expected from the instances. Update the task and
new 50Ω environment. notice the improved results.
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Full Array Project Results
5 Update the AC1 task, switch to the
3D environment and notice the great
performance in all the farfield results
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with annotation [AC1]
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7. Arbitrary Element Models
Arbitrary Element Models
1a
Open the project file
“Multiband_Array_withRadome.cst”
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and create a new Array Task.
1b
Import the layout file
“Multiband_Array_Layout.tsv”
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Arbitrary Element Models
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2a
Switch to the Group View and
select type “Full array geometry”
2b
Create these two
groups of elements
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Arbitrary Element Models
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3 In the Task Parameter List select the two
“CrossDipoles” blocks for the respective
groups and the “Radome” block for the
Enclosure – with alignment set to the origin.
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Arbitrary Element Models
4a
Create array project
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4b Select the F-solver
and band1 for the
reference settings
4c Select the port to be
activated for simulation
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Arbitrary Element Models
The complete full array simulation model, including a radome, with different unit cells for the
different bands of operation:
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Note that the Domain Decomposition method is
activated by default when selecting the F-solver.
This method can also exploit geometry
repetitions that results in significant speed up.
Simply go into the Solver Settings > Domains >
Repetitions and select Find All. Alternatively, the
TLM-solver is also well suited for this particular
model, although the runtime will scale linearly
with the number of sequential excitations.
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