Types of Grids and Surfaces

In AN-SOF, you can model metallic structures using either wire frameworks or solid sheets. Understanding the distinction between these two is key to accurate electromagnetic modeling:

• Wire Grids: These are frameworks composed of interconnected wires with gaps (holes) between them. The wires do not overlap; they meet at junctions to form a mesh.
• Solid Surfaces: These represent continuous, solid metal sheets without holes.

Both grids and surfaces can be constructed using straight or curved segments, allowing for highly complex geometries.

Available Geometries

To create these structures, navigate to Draw > Wire Grid / Solid Surface in the main menu, or use the Drawing Panel (View > Drawing Panel) for faster access.

Shape	Description
Patch	Creates a rectangular surface parallel to the XY-plane.
Plate	Creates a flat plate or a “bilinear surface” (a four-sided shape where corners may not be coplanar).
Disk	Creates a solid circular plate or a radial wire mesh.
Flat Ring	A disk with a central hole (annulus).
Cone	A standard conical structure ending in a single point.
Truncated Cone	A cone with the top portion removed, resulting in two circular faces of different radii.
Cylinder	A traditional cylindrical tube or solid rod representation.
Sphere	A full spherical shell modeled as a grid or surface.
Paraboloid	Essential for modeling parabolic reflectors and dish antennas.

Modeling Tips

• The Drawing Panel: We recommend keeping the Drawing Panel open if you are building complex reflectors. It saves several clicks when switching between different primitive shapes.
• Grid Density: When using wire grids to simulate solid surfaces, ensure the “hole” size is small relative to the wavelength (typically less than $\lambda / 10$) to ensure the grid behaves like a solid shield.