Altair Feko: What's new in Feko 2023
Altair EmployeeHighlights of the 2023 Release
The Feko 2023 release features extensions to many different solvers - enhancing Feko's capabilities in propagation modelling, network planning as well as general and specialist EM analysis application areas. There are various performance improvements, interoperability and API extension, enabling more flexible workflows and automation.
Feko
Component Library
A selection of new components was added to the CADFEKO component library. Ten new antenna models (including antennas for EMC testing) and four new platform models were added.
A selection of the new components is available in the component library.
Altair Material Data Center
The Altair Material Data Center is now populated with media from CADFEKO. Import the media and use in Feko simulations.
Automatic Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMRFEKO)
A new tool (AMRFEKO) is now available, which enables automatic adaptive mesh refinement based on error estimates for FEM and MoM/FEM solutions. The fully-automatic tool can be launched from a command prompt or any of the Feko GUIs and can also be used on HPC resources in a similar fashion to RUNFEKO.
An example of a model refined using AMRFEKO; Left: unrefined, Right: final refinement.
Domain Connectivity for Continuous Mesh
A new domain connectivity approach allows meshes of specific parts to be treated as if “connected” during MoM and MoM/MLFMM solutions in places where the borders of the meshes are close together, even if the mesh vertices on those borders are not coincident. Domain connectivity can now be configured in CADFEKO (new in 2023) or EDITFEKO (since 2022.3) and visualized in POSTFEKO (new in 2023).
A static imported car mesh and a parameterised antenna geometry are viewed in POSTFEKO where the Domain Connectivity display tool highlights edges in green that are connected using domain connectivity.
Characteristic Basis Functions Method (CBFM)
CBFM is a modification of the conventional method of moments (MoM) that reduces the number of unknowns using macro basis functions. This approach could be used with MoM from Feko 2022.3 but is now available for use with MoM/MLFMM – helping achieve a substantial performance improvement over MLFMM in some applications, such as monostatic RCS calculations of large objects with similar solution accuracy compared to the default solution.
An example of a monostatic RCS calculation of an aircraft solved with MLFMM and MoM/MLFMM.
Reduced Solution Method Limitations
- SEP regions (dielectrics) can be used in the MoM part of the solution for coupled and uncoupled scenarios with RL-GO.
- Lossy dielectrics can be included in characteristic mode analysis calculations.
- Loading restrictions have been relaxed to model direct/strong coupling between the inner and outer regions at the cable terminations in combined MoM/MTL simulations.
WinProp
Beam Assignment Algorithm for 5G Beamforming
The beam assignment algorithm in ProMan was improved to use the rays of the receiving pixel leading to more accurate results.
A before (left) and after (right) example of improved beam assignment algorithm.
View Arbitrary Prediction Planes in the 2D View
Arbitrary prediction planes can now be viewed in the 2D view by selecting the plane from the prediction plane drop-down list. In the past, arbitrary prediction planes could only be viewed in the 3D view. This option is useful when viewing vertical planes of the Parabolic Equation (PE) model.
Examples of arbitrary prediction planes available in the prediction plane drop-down list.
Left: Arbitrary plane in an indoor scenario in the 3D view and new 2D view; Right: A vertical prediction plane
used in the PE model.
2D Display Settings
The pixel center and pixel grid for 2D views can now be enabled on the Default Settings dialog.
An example of an indoor database where the pixel center and pixel grid were enabled on the Default Settings dialog. For a large database, zoom-in to view the pixel center and pixel grid.
New Wireless Standard Definition Files
Added the new wireless standard definition files (.wst) for WiFi 7 (802.11be) and updated WiFi 6 (802.11ax). ProMan was extended to support the new 4096-QAM transmission modes for WiFi 7 (802.11be).
WRAP
ITU-R P. 1409 Propagation Model
The ITU-R P. 1409 propagation model was added to WRAP, which provides propagation predictions for radio communication systems or networks using high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) or other elevated stations in the stratosphere. The model is valid from 1 GHz and above.
New and Improved Format for Height and Landcover Maps
Added a new and improved format for height and landcover maps to WRAP and MapDataManager that have non-integer resolutions and are backwards compatible with the old format. To support coordinates and resolutions with non-integer arc second values, modifications were made to MapData Manager and height/clutter data reader functions. For this new format, WRAP supports horizontal resolution in micrometers, and vertical resolution in mm. This will assist in detailed prediction and planning, involving maps with finer vertical and horizontal details of height and clutter (land use) data.
LTE Sub-Carrier Interference
Added support to calculate the LTE sub-carrier interference between neighbouring co-channel LTE base stations. The user has the option to select the strongest co-channel interference only, or all interference, in addition to defining the cell load. The option is used when LTE transmitters exist in coverage calculations that make use of interference, for example, RSSI, RSRQ, Data rate, Throughput, SINR.
The SINR LTE Base station settings dialog where you can select the strongest co-channel interference only, or all interference, in addition to defining the cell load.