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Advanced Simulation and Hi-Speed Cloud Computing Enables UPNM to Realize Large-Scale Metamaterial Lens Antenna Design Development.

2026.03.02

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Background

Designing high-frequency antennas at millimeter-wave bands is never an easy task—especially when the structure is electrically large and computationally demanding. Researchers at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) faced exactly this challenge while developing a 200 mm metamaterial lens antenna operating at 28 GHz, a frequency band critical for next-generation wireless and radar applications. They implemented Ansys HFSS high-frequency electromagnetic simulation software and CYBERNET CAE Cloud to overcome key computational challenges.

The Challenge: 
Large-scale Design Requiring High Computational Power

The research team aimed to achieve accurate electromagnetic characterization of a 200 mm diameter metamaterial lens antenna operating at 28 GHz, particularly for the baseline 0° feed configuration. It demanded extremely high memory and long simulation times—beyond the capability of typical local computing resources presenting the researchers with significant computational challenges.

  • Electrically large antenna structure 
  • High computational demands 
  • Limitations of local computing resources 
  • Accuracy requirements for electromagnetic validation 
  • Need to validate FE-BI accuracy
  

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Fig. FE-BI Boundary Condition
Near-Field Result.

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The Solution

CYBERNET enabled full-boundary simulations by providing HFSS software and lending their high-performance computing server. This allowed researchers to validate the accuracy of the FE-BI method against full radiation results, achieving reliable outcomes with a significantly more efficient simulation workflow.

"The continued adoption of HFSS with FE-BI is expected to play a key role in supporting sustainable, high-impact electromagnetic research and technology development across both academic and industrial sectors.”

Ts. Dr. Izni Husna Idris
Lecturer, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM)

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Key Results & Research Value

The researchers adopted HFSS with the Finite Element–Boundary Integral (FE-BI) method instead of using a full radiation boundary to overcome the challenges they were facing. It enabled accurate modelling of open-region problems while significantly reducing the computational domain size.

Compared to full radiation boundary simulations, the FE-BI method resulted in:

  • Significant reduction in simulation time
  • Lower computational resource requirements.
  • Consistent and accurate radiation pattern results.
  • Efficient evaluation of near-field and aperture distributions.

Read the Full Case Study

Download the 4-page case study for more details and insights including simulation configurations.

About UPNM

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Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) is a public defense university in Malaysia, focusing on advanced research and education in engineering, science, and defense-related technologies.

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