How Can I Design and Test Antennas Using HFSS? Guidance and Tips for Academia

[najeeb]

Hi

I have taken a very rudimentary course on antenna theory, now i am interested in further deepening my knowledge. I have bought myself Balanis's book on antenna theory, I need some guidance regarding what chapters should i study as it is quite a large book.

Secondly, after i have got enough of theory i would like to design antennas using HFSS (possibly patch antennas), now my question is, what is the next step after getting the 3D rad pattern, vswr, impedance etc in HFSS and fabricating the antenna?? How to test the antenna physically?? Will i have to construct a transmitter and receiver for the antenna? What is the standard practice to test the antenna in the academia?

 

[vk6kro]

I suspect that you should be guided by the author of the expensive book and start it from the beginning.
You have probably already sped through it and looked at the nice graphs, but it is time to get serious and cover the theory.

There are some wonderful simulators available for computers and these can display the properties of antennas if you feed in the dimensions of the antenna and give it a frequency.

One I like and use is EZNEC which is available as a free working demo and this is perfect for simple antennas.
The commercial versions you pay for cover more complex structures and these are still pretty reasonably priced. But try the demo first.

Forget patch antennas for a few years until you get comfortable with lower frequency antennas.

 

[yungman]

I have been studying antenna at the end of two EM books and beginning few chapters of Balanis until I got involved in some music electronics projects and had to stop half a year ago. So I am not an expert by any stretch.

You need to study at least the first 5 chapters to get going. Then the aperture antenna as the basic fundamental knowledge. Now a days, seem like a lot of designs are on pcb type of patch antenna, microstrip type, most of the jobs are on those. So I would think these are more useful in finding jobs. That's the direction I am heading at least as the first step after I finish the 6 essential chapters.

Remember most of the wireless connections are based around 2.4GHz eg. 802.11, Blue Tooth etc. Look at those as an example of what is important for the job market. That's the path I am heading when I get back to it. Then the others come next.

 

[najeeb]

thanks vk6kro and yungman.

 

[alphysicist]

I am glad to hear that you have taken an interest in antenna design and are seeking to deepen your knowledge. Balanis's book is a comprehensive resource on antenna theory and can provide you with a solid foundation. However, as it is a large book, I recommend focusing on the chapters that cover the basic principles of antennas, such as radiation patterns, impedance, and matching techniques. You may also want to consider studying the chapters on specific types of antennas, such as patch antennas, to gain a better understanding of their design and characteristics.

Once you have a good understanding of the theory, you can move on to designing antennas using HFSS. This software is commonly used in the industry and academia for antenna design and simulation. After obtaining the 3D radiation pattern, VSWR, and impedance, the next step would be to fabricate the antenna and test it physically.

There are several ways to test an antenna physically, depending on your specific goals and resources. One option is to use an antenna analyzer, which can measure the antenna's performance and characteristics. Another option is to use a network analyzer, which can measure the antenna's impedance and return loss. If you are interested in testing the antenna's performance in a specific scenario, such as in a wireless communication system, you may need to construct a transmitter and receiver to simulate that environment.

In the academic setting, the standard practice for testing antennas may vary depending on the specific research or project. However, it is common to use simulation software like HFSS to design and optimize the antenna, followed by physical testing using equipment such as an antenna analyzer or network analyzer. It is also important to document and present your results in a clear and organized manner.

I hope this guidance helps you in your journey to deepen your knowledge and design antennas using HFSS. Good luck!