Multi-objective optimization

coupling
modeFRONTIER and CST
MICROWAVE STUDIO

A. Clarich, Z. Wen*
ESTECO, Trieste, (Italy)
Summary

• Introduction to modeFRONTIER

• CST direct interface in modeFRONTIER

• Application case: optimization of wideband antenna

• Application case: optimization of Power Data Handling and Transmission (PDHT) antenna
Introducing modeFRONTIER

is an integration platform for multi-objective

optimization, automation of design processes
and analytic decision making providing
seamless coupling with engineering tools
within various disciplines
User’s Community and short company history
ESTECO started in 1999 as a University spin-off.

modeFRONTIER was the first commercial tool that allowed a MULTI-OBJECTIVE

optimization applied to ANY engineering design area

Now modeFRONTIER is used worldwide

modeFRONTIER modeFRONTIER modeFRONTIER modeFRONTIER modeFRONTIER

v. 1 v. 2 v. 3 v. 4 v. 5

1999 2001 2003 2004 2008 2010 2013

Esteco Opening of
Expansion to
establishment ESTECO
Asian markets
in Europe North America

Automotive

Research Inst. and Uni

Electronics

Aerospace

Energy

Materials

Appliances

Defence and Space

The Concept behind modeFRONTIER

Traditional Design Optimization Approach

Initial Parametric Design Objectives

Configuration models and Constraints

Simulate

Evaluate Modify
Results Configuration

No
OK?

Yes
Optimal trade-off
Accept Solution
The Concept behind modeFRONTIER

Scheduler:
(DOE, optimization algorithms,..)

The Black Box:

Input Variables: (ADAMS, ANSYS, CST, GT-Suite, etc.) Output Variables:
Entities defining the Measures from the
design space. system

modeFRONTIER can be coupled with most software (CAD, CAE or general application
tools) and it enables the simultaneous use of a number of such software packages even
on different machines
Modules of modeFRONTIER

Process Integration Design of Experiments Optimization Algorithms Robust Design

Response Surface Tool Statistical Analysis Multivariate Analysis Decision Making

CST interface in modeFRONTIER
CST interface in modeFRONTIER

• Existing I/O parameters are automatically introspected and listed after clicking apposite space
• Assign each one of them to mF workspace parameters
CST direct interface Preferences

• CST application can be

selected
• CST solver can be
specified
 Application Examples:

1) Maximizing bandwidth for a wideband antenna with

modeFRONTIER

2) Multi-objective optimization of an isoflux Antenna

from: F.Franchini, Multi-objectives optimization coupling modeFRONTIER and CST

MICROWAVE STUDIO®, CST Workshop Series 2013 - 14 March 2013, Ankara, Turkey

Courtesy of
Application example: Maximizing bandwidth for a wideband antenna

• Wideband antenna for mobile communications, e.g. in

base stations

• Antenna performance is measured by return loss (low

return loss desirable)

• Aim: design antenna with low return loss over the

largest frequency range possible
– S11 - parameter used, equivalent to return loss

• Bandwidth for nominal design is 2.1 GHz

Courtesy of
Results 1/2
Original design Final design
S11 peak to -4.3 dB
(above limit!)
S11 peak below limit

Bandwidth = 2.13 GHz Bandwidth = 2.43 GHz

• Bandwidth increased by 15% compared to original model

– Nominal design violated design constraint of S11 < -4.5 dB in range

– Automated process for antenna design created

– Two-step optimization approach

Courtesy of
Results 2/2
Engineering design process captured:

 Easy adaptation for future projects (more parameters, different antenna model, additional result quantities …)

 Relationship between input parameters and results clarified

Estimated time to carry out a similar project

Engineering CPU
time time
Defining modeFRONTIER workflow 1h
First optimization step (finding a starting point,
30 simulations, 20 minutes each): 10 h

Evaluation first step 30 min

Second optimization step
(20 simulations, 45 minutes each): 15 h
Evaluation of results 1h
Total 2.5 h 25 h
Total time for project 1,5 days

Courtesy of
Application example: Multi-objective optimization of an isoflux
Antenna

PDHT Antenna Description

• The Power Data Handling and Transmission (PDHT) antennas
are basic payloads on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.
• These antennas play an important role in many mission of
earth Observation from Space, where high transmission rate
is required to acquire Earth images in various spectral bands
for several civilian and military applications.
• The basic PDHT Antenna architecture was developed more
than ten years ago and It consists of a corrugated planar
surfaces with cylindrical symmetry excited by quartz loaded
launcher, so that the analysis is based on 2D Method of
Moment Modeling, while the optimization is performed by a
quasi-Newton technique.

F. Franchini, N.Baldecchi Enginsoft SpA, Firenze, Italy

C. Iannicelli, Software System Engineering SpA, Roma, Italy
R. Ravanelli, Thales Alenia Italia SpA, Roma, Italy
PDHT Antenna Description

The new PDHT Antenna Structure conceived to meet new and

more stringent requirements especially on cross-polarization
discrimination XPD and operative frequency bandwidth has sets
of slots in radial direction: 3D modeling is necessary with much
more computation resources to perform electromagnetic
analysis

The slots are variables in number and geometry.

New multi-objective evolutionary algorithms are required

because of the new multi-variable and multi-objective nature
of optimization problem
Electromagnetic Problem Formulation

10 D2
8
D…
6
4 Dn
2
DRn
0
Rn
Amplitude (dBi)

-2 DR….
-4 R…
DR2
-6
-8 DR1 R2

-10 R1
-12 Minimum Gain Mask
MinimumGainMask

-14
Maximum Gain
MaximumGainMask Mask A1
-16 A2
-18 A…
-20 An
-90 -80 -70 -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Theta (degs)

• Radio Frequency requirements are fixed on:

• Gain achievement on desired mask defined on elevation angular range
• Cross Polar Discrimination (XPD) on required angular and frequency
• Amplitude and Phase Ripple with respect of required frequency
• Return Loss requirement
• The Antenna Structure is described by a set of geometrical parameters
• The Antenna Performances Optimization consists in defining the best combination of
geometrical variables
Optimization Methodology

• First step: Design of Experiments (DOE) in modeFRONTIER and sensitivity analysis

to reduce the variables from 100 to 25 variables

• Second step: Optimization phase performed by Genetic Algorithm and Game

Theory on the reduced variables space
 DOE – Sensitivity Analysis

• Uniform Latin Hypercube DOE approach allow to generate a set of uncorrelated designs
in input such to avoid linear correlation between them.

• Sensitivity Analysis has been performed in order to better understand I/O correlations,
and to reduce the optimization problem dimension
Optimization strategy

• A first screening of design space has been implemented combining the current DOE
with MOGT (Game Theory algorithm)

• Starting from the Pareto Frontier of MOGT step, MOGAII (Multi –objective Genetic
Algorithm) has been applied to extend the set of optimum solutions

• A good compromise of the most important requirements (Gain and XPD) has been
found
Discussion of results 1/2
• Comparing the results between optimized design and
original design the following improvements have been
achieved:
BASELINE

• Improvement of the gain at ±62°

(6.6 dB vs. 6 dB);

• The pattern widening on the

enlarged coverage has been
achieved so that the antenna can be OPTIMIZED
used for the lower satellite position
with 70 degs field of view;

• The XPD improve of 7 dB passing

from 5 dB to 12 dB;
Discussion of results 2/2

• The amplitude ripple in band of

interest has been satisfied with 1
dB (peak to peak) variation. The
new solution presents a
equalized copular pattern over a
large frequency bandwidth;

• The phase ripple in band of

interest is satisfied with 3 deg
(peak to peak) variation;
Conclusion

• The presentation highlights the powerful capabilities of modeFRONTIER couple

with CST MICROWAVE STUDIO in the antenna development process (Optimization)

• In modeFRONTIER any numerical model can be integrated in the process, and a

large variety of multi-objective optimization algorithms and pre/post-processing
tools are available
 Thank you!

ESTECO
Area Science Park
Padriciano, 99
34149 Trieste - Italy
e-mail: engineering@esteco.com

www.esteco.com