ESTEAM

General EM scattering and radiation

ESTEAM is the tool for solving electromagnetic scattering and radiation problems of general nature involving conducting as well as dielectric materials. Detailed models of, for example, microstrip and helix antennas can be analysed and optimised, and ESTEAM particularly excels for modelling electrically large antennas and platforms.

Flexible handling of complex geometrical models

Parametrised objects are available to build models of various geometries and antennas, and if combined with GRASP in TICRA Tools, a wide range of parametrised reflector geometries are also available. More complex structures may be imported through CAD files in STEP or IGES format or through tabulated mesh files.

Platform scattering and antenna placement

Real-world antennas do not exist alone, but are used in proximity to other antennas and often mounted on a structure or platform. Predictions of the antenna performance may depend critically on accurate modelling of this antenna placement, and ESTEAM is particularly well suited for analysing this. The antenna surroundings could, for example, include a mounting arm or an entire spacecraft with a multitude of reflector antennas, solar panels, thrusters and other mechanical structures.

Accurate and realistic feed modelling

Accurate predictions of antennas and antenna placement also relies on precise and detailed modelling of the source or feed of the system. With ESTEAM you can, in addition to simple and ideal sources such as Hertzian dipoles and voltage generators, include a detailed model of a waveguide or coaxial port excitation, or use a simulated or measured feed pattern as a tabulated source.

Unique mesh-robust implementation

Implementation of a discontinuous Galerkin method enables the user to combine objects that are meshed with completely different parameters – an optimum approach in terms of efficiency. Moreover, MoM allows for easy combination of different input meshes as the connectivity is controlled through a user-definable tolerance parameter.

Minimum memory requirement, maximum speed

The secret lies in decades of in-house R&D in MoM techniques using higher-order patches and current expansion functions combined with an accelerated method, MLFMM, tailored to the MoM algorithm. This ensures maximum accuracy with minimum memory consumption, while simultaneously achieving high speed.

Working with complex CAD geometries

ESTEAM supports direct 3D geometry modelling and seamless handling of imported CAD files, allowing users to define and modify structures without relying on external CAD tools.

The workflow is optimised for efficient handling of large and complex structures, enabling direct work on detailed CAD models and reducing preparation time when analysing electromagnetic scattering and radiation.