Feko is a comprehensive electromagnetic solver with multiple solution methods that is used for electromagnetic field analyses
involving 3D objects of arbitrary shapes.
3D views are used to display and interact with the model. You can zoom, rotate and pan around a 3D model using the keyboard,
mouse or a combination of both. You can use a 3D mouse, specify a view or select specific parts of a model. Multiple 3D
views are supported.
Define field or current data using either far field data, near field data, spherical mode data or PCB current data. Use
the field/current definition when defining an equivalent source or a receiving antenna.
Define a medium with specific material properties, import a predefined medium from the media library or add a medium from
your model to the media library.
Defined media can be applied to the model in various ways. Some media settings are applied to regions, others on faces
and wires. The rules for defining media varies between the different solution methods.
Use a periodic boundary condition (PBC) to analyse infinite periodic structures. A typical application of PBC is to
analyse frequency selective surface (FSS) structures.
Create an arbitrary finite antenna array that consists of an array of contributing elements, either with direct feeds for
each element or via indirect coupling, and solve with the efficient domain Green's function method (DGFM).
Use the windscreen tools to define a curved reference surface constrained by a cloud of points, normals and optional U′V′ parameters. The constrained surface is then used as a reference to create a work surface where windscreen layers and curved
parameterised windscreen antenna elements can be created.
Many electromagnetic compatibility and interference problems involve cables that either radiate, are irradiated or cause
coupling into other cables, devices or antennas. Use the cable modelling tool and solver to analyse the coupling and radiation.
For a frequency domain result, the electromagnetic fields and currents are calculated at a single frequency or frequency
range. When the finite difference time domain (FDTD) solver is used, the frequency must be specified to convert the native time domain results to the frequency domain.
The excitation of an antenna is normally specified as a complex voltage, but it may be useful to specify the total radiated
or source power instead. The result is then scaled to yield the desired source power level.
A port is a mathematical representation of where energy can enter (source) or leave a model (sink). Use a port
to add sources and discrete loads to a model.
Perform multiple solutions for a single model using multiple configurations. Multiple configurations remove the requirement
to create multiple models with different solution requests.
Use an infinite plane or half-space to model a ground plane efficiently. The number of triangles in the model is reduced
as the ground plane is not discretised into triangles.
A mesh is a discretised representation of a geometry model or mesh model. The geometry model (or mesh model) is meshed
to obtain a simulation mesh which is given as input to the Solver to calculate the requests. The accuracy of the results depends greatly on generating a mesh that is an accurate representation
of the model.
CADFEKO supports segments, triangles, tetrahedra and voxels as mesh elements. The type of mesh element used to create a mesh
is directly coupled to the solver method.
A mesh can be created quickly without you having any knowledge of what the ideal mesh size should be for the model. Use
the coarse, standard or fine mesh size to determine the correct mesh size for the model that takes into account the frequency,
solution method, media properties and curvature of the model.
When an accurate solution of the model requires a fine mesh, the mesh can be refined at specific areas of the model without
simply meshing the entire model finer.
Define a mesh refinement rule around a specified point. Mesh elements in the vicinity of the point are refined. Mesh
refinement around a point is used when only a subset of a face, edge or wire needs to be refined.
Define a mesh refinement rule along a specified polyline. Mesh elements in the vicinity of this polyline are refined.
Polyline mesh refinement is often used to refine the mesh under a cable, wire or a transmission line.
Error estimates can be used to automatically place mesh refinement rules (point refinement) in the model where the
error is estimated to be large. Refining the model in the areas with the largest errors results in a model where the
errors are comparable everywhere in the model and produces a model with increased accuracy without an excessive increase
in mesh elements.
It is not possible to edit a simulation mesh directly, but you can unlink the simulation mesh and edit the mesh part
as though it is an imported mesh. A mesh part can also be replaced with a different mesh.
A stand-alone batch meshing tool can be called from the command line to mesh a model and modify variable values in a CADFEKO model file, without launching the CADFEKOGUI.
A CADFEKO.cfm file can be imported into EDITFEKO to make use of more advanced features available in EDITFEKO and to directly edit the .pre file for more flexible solution configurations.
During the design process, the development of a model can introduce a range of issues that can lead to a non-simulation-ready
model. Use the validation toolset to verify that the model is simulation-ready or to search, detect and flag discrepancies.
The default solver used in Feko is the method of moments (MoM) - surface equivalence principle (SEP). A solver is specified per model, per face or per region, and depends on the solver in question.
CADFEKO has a collection of tools that allows you to quickly validate the model, for example, perform calculations using
a calculator, measure distances, measure angles and export images.
EDITFEKO is used to construct advanced models (both the geometry and solution requirements) using a high-level scripting language
which includes loops and conditional statements.
One of the key features in Feko is that it includes a broad set of unique and hybridised solution methods. Effective use of Feko features requires an understanding of the available methods.
Feko offers state-of-the-art optimisation engines based on generic algorithm (GA) and other methods, which can be used
to automatically optimise the design and determine the optimum solution.
Feko writes all the results to an ASCII output file .out as well as a binary output file .bof for usage by POSTFEKO. Use the .out file to obtain additional information about the solution.
CADFEKO and POSTFEKO have a powerful, fast, lightweight scripting language integrated into the application allowing you to create
models, get hold of simulation results and model configuration information as well as manipulation of data and automate
repetitive tasks.
When an accurate solution of the model requires a fine mesh, the mesh can be refined at specific areas of the model without
simply meshing the entire model finer.
Define a mesh refinement rule around a specified point. Mesh elements in the vicinity of the point are refined. Mesh
refinement around a point is used when only a subset of a face, edge or wire needs to be refined.
Define a mesh refinement rule around a specified point. Mesh elements in the vicinity
of the point are refined. Mesh refinement around a point is used when only a subset of a
face, edge or wire needs to be refined.
On the Mesh tab, in the
Refinement Rules group, click the Point Refinement icon.
Under Position, specify the origin of the point where
the mesh is to be refined.
In the Radius field, enter a value for the radius to
specify the mesh area that is to be refined.
In the Mesh size field, enter a value for the mesh
element length.
Enter a unique label for the point refinement.
Click Create to create the point refinement rule
and to close the dialog.
The mesh refinement rule is added to the model tree,
on the Configuration tab.
[Optional] Hide the display of mesh rules in the 3D view.
On the 3D View
context tab, on the Display Options tab, in the
Entity Display group, click the Meshing Rules icon.