CST Studio Suite
The market-leading electromagnetic field simulation software
What Can You Do with CST Studio Suite?
All solvers are included in the standard license
Antenna Design & Optimization
Design and improve components ranging from electrically huge arrays and reflector antennas to miniature antennas printed on highly populated PCBs.
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
Find and fix potential problems from the beginning of the design process to avoid costly prototyping errors.
PCB Analysis & Design
Design and evaluate RF/microwave circuits in either schematic or 3D using tools such as SI, PI, and DDR4 wizard.
Analyze Highly Resonant Structures
Synthesize filters and design components based on waveguides and coaxial cavities. Analyze phenomena such as RF breakdown.
Highly Complex Events and Designs
Analyze highly complex criteria ranging from lightning strikes to bioelectromagnetics and magnetic marine signatures.
Low Frequency EM Field Simulation
Analyze and design electric machinery, resistive and superconducting magnets, transformers, actuators, and high voltage devices.
Antenna Design Optimization & Electromagnetic Intereference and Compliance
Antenna design is one of the main applications areas of CST Studio Suite. Users design and optimize components ranging from miniaturized antennas printed PCBs to electrically large arrays and reflector antennas. CST is well known to antenna designers in all industries, looking to achieve optimal designs.
It’s possible to analyze the antenna in free space, as well as in a more realistic environment, taking the antenna housing and mounting structure into account. CST includes efficient workflows for design optimization of the antenna, and its feed network, as well post-processing a wide variety of results.
The benefits of Active Electronically Scanned Arrays (AESAs) have made them popular in both communication applications and radars. Designing these systems is challenging and the demands it places on a simulation tool is very high.
CST has an array design functionality which makes the design of phased arrays more efficient. It includes a workflow for both the unit cell and full array simulation. CST comes with predefined array shapes and excitations patterns, but also allows you to take full control in the definition of your array.
CST includes a schematic design tool for circuit and system level simulation. A variety of component models are available, based on analytical models. The possibility to include 3D EM simulation projects easily extend the number of available components.
It’s possible to use SPICE netlists for detailed electronic models as well as measured data in the TOUCHSTONE file format. IBIS support allows accurate I/O device descriptions. In addition to this, vendor libraries of linear and non-linear components make the schematic setup easy. The circuit behavior can then be coupled into your 3D EM simulation project for accurate analysis of the system behavior.
In most countries, products must comply with EMC standards to be sold. Generally, this includes both conducted and radiated emissions, to make sure the product does not cause interference to other products – as well as susceptibility requirements to make sure that the product can work in a pre-defined electromagnetic environment. To identify a potential EMC problem as soon as possible is critical, as this minimizes the impact on the development process and release date.
Simulation is a critical tool for this, as it allows investigations before the first prototype is even manufactured. In CST, it’s possible to combine the circuit behavior of your product with the 3D geometry, making EMC assessments possible in an early stage of the design process.
Signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) and Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) are important concerns in PCB design that are closely coupled. Signal integrity effects like resonances, reflections, crosstalk, can be simulated at any stage of product development, from pre-layout to post-layout phase.
The EDA workflow in CST allows you to easily import layouts and stackups from popular tools such as Cadence, Mentor, Zuken, and Altium using ODB++ or IPC-2581 file formats. The Design rule check quickly identifies high risk areas of the board. Identify coupling paths by running a full 3D simulation of the PCB.
CST includes a tool specially designed for the fast and accurate investigation of cables in complex electromagnetic environments. It gives the possibility to investigate multiscale problems that are difficult to manage with the full-wave solvers. To give an example, cables can have dimensions in the micrometer range, and simulating those in vehicles or other complex equipment with system dimensions in the meter range.
It’s possible to define a cable harness from start to finish within CST or to have a more automated workflow by importing cable harnesses from CATIA, or else using NASTRAN or KBL files.
The placement of antennas is crucial for its performance when installed on a vehicle, or structure. The surroundings of the antenna can reflect or obstruct the electromagnetic waves and thus influence its performance.
Simulating small antennas with fine details on large structures is a challenging task, and CST includes The Hybrid Solver Task, utilizing different solvers on different parts of the model. Simulated fields are transferred between solvers through field sources, with a bidirectional link between the solvers for more accurate simulation. This benefit of this is that it’s possible to achieve accurate simulation results on regular workstations, with a reasonable simulation time.
In addition to the excellent modelling features of CST, it’s possible to include a database of over 350 antennas, transitions, and feed structures. Each antenna can be designed for a wide range of objectives – operating frequencies, gain, size, input impedance and substrate type.
The synthesis algorithms match objectives to physical parameter sets in a matter of seconds, allowing the engineer instant feedback about the expected dimensions of the antenna. These fully parametric simulation models that can be evaluated and optimized using the full wave solvers of CST.
CST can accurately model electromagnetic fields for all types of machines, including axial and radial flux topologies and linear motion devices. CST also includes the Machines Environment, a parameterized template-based tool designed for efficient modeling of electrical machines. Analysis of iron and copper losses, induced eddy currents, back-EMF, torque and open and short-circuit curves can easily be performed.
Solving and optimizing a highly coupled Multiphysics problem around the entire drivetrain is made easy using the wide variety of solvers and great interoperability with other CAE and CAD tools.
CST is a powerful tool for development of magnets of all types, in areas such as electrical machines, MRI, particle accelerators and ion-bean systems.
The accuracy of the electromagnetic field calculations, coupled with multi-physics simulations of thermal performance and structural stress, makes CST the preferred software for both scientific and commercial applications. This includes a unique multiphysics characterization of the quench effect of superconducting magnets.
Precision and speed are two well-known design parameters of a linear actuator. They might be sensitive to EMI and the overall design need to withstand a high number of operating cycles, without being over dimensioned.
The design of linear actuators is a work-of-art in multi-physics where you need to capture the motion-induced effects of the axis movement, while coupling circuit simulation with finite element analysis and accounting for non-linear effects and magnetic hysteresis. This can all be achieved, out of the box, with CST.
With CST Studio Suite, it is possible to model the phenomena occurring in devices operating in high-voltage systems, as well as to analyze the operating states of lines of the highest voltage overhead and cable transmission.
Already at the design stage, it’s possible to predict the value of the electromagnetic field strength under the designed high-voltage line, as well as the frequency of interleaving between individual wires of the considered line.
CST is also a tool dedicated to the analysis of the electric field distributions inside the insulators as well the space in their surrounding, and also the tool allowing for the analysis of phenomena occurring inside the HV insulators.
The demand for increasing efficiency in power generation and usage offer both opportunities and challenges for the power industry.
Accurate calculations of a transformers’ efficiency and electrical insulation breakdown performance can be calculated using finite element analysis in CST.
This allows the designer to optimize their products using computer modelling instead of the costly production of physical prototypes.
Using the Finite Element method, Maxwell’s equations are solved to find the interaction of charged particles in electrostatic and magnetostatic fields. Multiple charged particle species can be defined and included in the simulation. CST is capable of simulating traditional designs as well as nanotube emitters. It’s possible to include the effects of dielectric materials charging, space charge and relativistic motion.
A large set of models for are included in the software, including different plasmas, emitters, and emissions, to help the user with the model setup.
To name a few, CST includes workflows for particle accelerator components, vacuum electron devices, plasma applications such as gyrotrons.
It’s also possible to run simulations of RF-breakdown analysis for Multipactor and Corona effects.
In some industries, lightning strike simulation is an important part of the development process. CST includes an electrostatic solver which can be used to find the lightning attachment zones. Lightning pulse simulations can be done using the time domain solvers.
CST also offers numerous techniques for modelling vents and seams, thin panel materials which can be used for composites and coupling with the CST cable solver to allow an efficient simulation workflow. The 3D visualization of the electromagnetic fields and current gives an insight in the EM performance of the aircraft body or wind turbine.
Bioelectromagnetics is the interaction of electromagnetic fields with the human body. It’s a crucial topic for a wide range of medical devices for imaging and treatment. Another important aspect is connected to safety regulations, making it a concern for manufacturers of, e.g., smartphones, wearables and electric cars. The human body is an extremely complex structure made up of materials with a wide range of EM, and thermal properties, meaning that specialized modeling and simulation tools are needed.
CST includes a variety of voxel body models, which can be posed to model realistic scenarios. It’s also possible to evaluate the performance changes of, for example, an antenna when being placed close next to a body part.
CST provides a range of electromagnetic solvers available for the simulation of microwave filters and components.
The modeling and analysis of devices with different components or complex building blocks, such as multiplexers, can be simplified by the use of the System Assembly & Modeling workflow.
This allows for quick assemblies as well as the analysis/optimization of the individual parts within the larger system.
It’s possible to use advanced technologies for the synthesis, modeling, and optimization of RF filters.
There are many types of filters, ranging from the ones created by lumped components or planar filters on PCBs, as well as cavity and waveguide filter. These are all covered within CST, and it’s even possible to use CST for real-time assistive tuning when manufacturing cavity filters.
Choose Your CST Studio Suite Experience
CST Studio Suite Desktop
SIMULIA CST Studio Suite can be installed to a single computer – whether it’s a laptop or a powerful workstation – using a node-locked license
CST Studio Suite Network
SIMULIA CST Studio Suite can be set up for local teams using network licensing, allowing users to run simulations either on their PC, or on powerful compute servers and clusters
CST Studio Suite on Cloud
CST Studio Suite can also be licensed on cloud via 3DEXPERIENCE. This allows for a smoother workflow if you want to offload simulations from your laptop.
Latest Updates to CST Studio Suite
In this blog post, TECHNIA Simulation experts Thomas Gisslén explores CST Studio’s vast capabilities.
CST Studio offers a single user interface for multisolver and multiphysics simulation using System Assembly and Modeling (SAM).
Engineers can quickly acquire a deeper understanding of component performance by testing designs in complicated scenarios before components enter the manufacturing phase of development.
Each year, CST Studio is updated with new and improved tools and enhancements for designing, analyzing, and optimizing electromagnetic (EM) components and systems.
Read the blog to learn more about the latest updates to CST Studio 2024.
FAQs
What is CST Studio Suite used for?
CST Studio Suite is a high-performance simulation software designed for electromagnetic (EM) and multiphysics applications. It enables engineers to analyze and optimize the behavior of electromagnetic components and systems across industries. Common applications include:
- Designing 5G MIMO antenna arrays.
- Ensuring electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in electronic devices.
- Simulating MRI safety and implant interactions in life sciences.
- Optimizing motors, generators, and high-power devices for thermal and electromagnetic effects.
Which solvers are included in CST Studio Suite?
CST Studio Suite includes a comprehensive set of solvers that cover the entire electromagnetic spectrum and beyond. These include:
- High-frequency solver for antenna design, radar systems, and wireless communication.
- Low-frequency solver for motors, transformers, and sensors.
- Multiphysics solver that combines thermal, structural, and electromagnetic simulations.
- Particle solver, which simulates charged particle dynamics in accelerators or plasma devices.
- EMC & EDA solvers focused on signal integrity, power integrity, and PCB analysis.
What data exchange options are available?
CST Studio Suite offers robust data exchange capabilities to streamline workflows. Key features include:
- Import models from popular CAD tools like SOLIDWORKS or EDA tools such as Altium and Cadence.
- Fully parametric models ensure that design changes in CAD tools are instantly reflected in simulation models.
- Automatically fix flawed or non-compliant CAD data to ensure seamless simulation processes.
How do you install CST Studio Suite?
The CST Studio Suite installation process is fairly typical. First make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements, then download the installer and activate your license. For a detailed step-by-step guide, please refer to our CST Studio Suite installation guide.
