Cylinder

The Cylinder Command

The Cylinder command allows you to create cylindrical conductive structures, which are essential for modeling thick antenna elements, tubular masts, coaxial outer conductors, or shielding cans.

To open the tool, navigate to Draw > Wire Grid / Solid Surface > Cylinder.

Defining the Geometry

In the Cylinder tab, you configure the physical dimensions and spatial orientation of the structure using these parameters:

• Base Point Coordinates (Px, Py, Pz): The center point of the bottom circular face of the cylinder (Figs. 1 and 2).
• Length: The total height of the cylinder along its axis.
• Radius: The distance from the central axis to the outer surface.
• Orientation (Theta and Phi): These angles define the direction of the cylinder’s axis. For a vertical cylinder, you would set Theta = 0 deg.

Curvature Options

You can choose how the software represents the circular cross-section:

• Curved Segments: Provides an exact mathematical representation of the cylinder’s curve. This is highly recommended to ensure the simulation accurately captures surface current distributions.
• Straight Segments: Approximates the cylinder as a prism with a polygonal base.

Faceting and Mesh Attributes

In the Attributes tab, you define the computational mesh:

• Facets: Specify the number of divisions along the Axis (lengthwise) and Azimuthally (around the circumference).
• Wire Grid: Select Circular cross-section to create a “caged” cylinder made of a wire framework.
• Solid Surface: Select Flat or Rectangular cross-sections. AN-SOF will automatically adjust the strip widths to form a continuous, solid metal tube.

Materials

Use the Materials tab to define the resistivity of the cylinder (e.g., Aluminum for a mast or Copper for a high-Q resonator) and to add any dielectric coating or insulation.