Our projects

(SAR & Augmented Measurement)

• Funding Authority: AID (Defense & Innovation Agency) / DGA – RAPID Program
• Project duration: Start July. 1st 2020 – 36 months
• Topic Manager: ART-FI
• Partners: ART-FI, THALES SIX GTS, AxesSim

Digital revolution is currently impacting every industry; high technology has completely changed practices of work and simplified processes, offering new perspectives for the development of innovative products and services using 5G, LTE, Bluetooth & WiFi technologies.
In this context, the proliferation of antennas close to the human body seriously complicates the evaluation of our exposure to electromagnetic waves and the characterization of the radiation performance of these antennas.

Both civil and military fields are impacted by this evolution: in the civil area, this mainly concerns communicating objects close to humans (smartphones, smartwatches, RFID tags, etc) or even implanted in the body. In addition, a set of communicating objects (IoT) invading our domestic environment (house, vehicle,…) reinforce the pervasive electromagnetic environment. In the military field, this trend is part of a process modernizing the means equipping forces. For example, these means of communication equip the troops maneuvering over the field as well as the combat training centers.

The overall objective of SAM is a real game changer for designers of communicating equipment, facilitating their development and certification by combining the best of experimental and digital approaches.
SAM is proving to be a powerful tool for improving the design of complex systems by optimizing the antennas to meet both conflicting constraints: maximizing operating efficiency while minimizing human exposure.
This new approach combines near-field vector scanner and electromagnetic processing, in order to obtain the SAR, the TRP (Total Radiated Power), the 3D radiation pattern in complex multi-emission contexts.
In addition, some augmented measurement capabilities will be developed, that consists in evaluating the performance of the equipment in its final environment. Evaluation of “cumulative” SAR is a potential benefit of these augmented measurement capabilities.

The manufacturers of civil or military radiant equipment, the testing and certification laboratories of this equipment as well as the regulatory bodies are the beneficiaries of SAM results.

Study of multiscale strategies for EMC simulation

• Funding Authority: AID (Defense & Innovation Agency) / DGA – ASTRID Program
• Project duration: Start Feb. 1st 2020 – 30 months
• Topic Manager: ONERA
• Partners: ONERA, IRMA Institute (University of Strasbourg)

The M2CEM project is a progression of research work carried out on algorithm for the resolution of Maxwell’s equations in the time domain and particularly on Galerkin Discontinuous approaches.
The objective is to increase the performance of this kind of method in order to study multiscale issues. Many industrial problems require this kind of ability such as overlap of panels constituting an aeronautical structure (sparking risk in case of lightning strike), antenna siting on complex and confined environments, …
In these situations, it is relevant to be able to manage in a single simulation tool the difference in scale between the different parts of a complete structure.

To deal with this challenge, it is essential to reduce the computation times and the memory load of current GD approaches by analyzing jointly optimal mesh strategies (refinement & de-refinement, mixed Cartesian / unstructured mesh) for simulation.

Within the GD approach, we will focus on methods of lightening CFL constraints and methods of calculating HP connection flows between very economical heterogeneous areas.
Regarding the mesh strategy, to choose between mesh sizes and Cartesian / unstructured bonding areas, it will be necessary to ensure the stability and consistency of the GD scheme. This involves a careful study of the radiation of the constraints emanating from the small elements in order to guide their mesh strategy compared to the rest of the field (zone of connection, size of the meshes, …).

The objective of this research in the M2CEM project, carried out jointly by different complementary partners (ONERA, IRMA and AxesSim), will allow us to propose a solution to the multi-scale issue. Methods and tools developed within the framework of the M2CEM project will be tested during the project, our solutions will then be quantified, in terms of memory performance / calculation time and accuracy on various examples like a cube with a parametric slit, a human body mannequin carrying a connected antenna, an airborne missile with a slit at the wings…

EM compatibility ANALYsis & Statistical Techniques in aeronautics

• Funding Authority: European Commission – CleanSky2
• Project duration: 1-11-2018 / 1-11-2020
• Topic Manager: SAFRAN Electrical & Power
• Partners: ONERA, IDS, Università degli Studi dell’Aquila
• Communication: Twitter / Website

ANALYST project is placed in the context of Electric Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS), the installation directives and specifications that are provided by airframers (and that guaranties implicitly – if applied – that all sections of the applied standards will be verified: for example TDD- Technical Design Directives and SIDP-System Integration Design Principles routes). They concern the allocation of cables in bundles (segregation in routes depending on criticity), relative geometry of routes of bundles (spacing and height between routes,..), size of bundles. Those rules depend on the airframer and generally on the aircraft). In terms of declination we have for example for Airbus: CS25 → Subpart H → TDD → SIDP.

So the objective of the ANALYST project is to have available tools and methods for two main purposes:
• To help to for the design of cable networks → which requires sensitivity analysis capability.
• To help to justify derogations to the installation rules → which requires lowering of margins capabilities → necessitating capabilities for precise estimation of “extreme cases” and their related “confidence level”.

This objective requires to definitely consider the not-deterministic nature of the problem, looking for a statistical description of the relevant physical parameters (currents, voltages, power) linked to statistical descriptions of the involved geometrical/electrical variables/environment (cables, bundles, platform grounding features etc.).

Also design solutions could be assumed on the basis of information not usually available when deterministic analysis/testing is applied, like:
• Propagation of variables uncertainty in system response
• Sensitivity analysis.

On such bases the ANALYST project aims at developing and demonstrating/validating a numerical modelling methodology based on statistical approaches for the specific context of EM compatibility analysis of cable-harnesses in aeronautics.

More in details, the following main goals will be pursued:
• Development of a statistical harness modelling methodology and related SW tools, suitable to catch the real-life complexity of aircraft installed harness (of the order of 40.000 cables, 10.000 electrical links if considering full aircraft wiring or still of the order of hundreds/thousands if considering single harnesses)
• Control and reduction of the computational cost of the tools, which must be suitable to be applied in the frame of common engineering workflows usually accepted in aeronautical industry, developing speed-up techniques of the electromagnetic (EM) harness models
• Demonstration, evaluation of effectiveness and validation of the methodology (different statistical modelling approaches, referring to state of the art solutions and innovations proposed by the team, will be compared, validated and evaluated in terms of effectiveness)

• Integration of the finally selected modelling approach in CableSim, the AxesSim’s professional CAE Tool, already equipped with the workflows and procedures needed to properly manage (i.e. by considering a typical industrial approach) the complexity of a real aircraft application in order to be able to prove the accurate results of the project on real-life harness configurations.

Pierre Soissons / Safran

Pierre Soissons / Safran

Compact antenna model installed on a vehicle equipped for remote detection

• Funding Authority: DGA (French MOD) – ASTRID Maturation
• Project duration: 1-02-2016 / 1-02-2019
• Partners: Thales Communications & Security, IETR research laboratory

The objective of the MCIED2 project is to design a compact, directive and integrable VHF antenna on vehicle to improve contrast between signals from target and ground clutter and thus increase the probability of detection of radio anomalies.The transmission in VHF band results in a strong interaction between the antenna and the carrier. The study is conducted for two types of platforms : the first is military (operational platform) and the second is civil (test platform). The very different geometries of these platforms will allow us to apprehend a great diversity of scenario of interactions with the VHF antenna to be conceived.

Applications include detection systems for the use of improvised explosive devices on the military side and self-protection for dual security applications of civilian and military vehicles. The design of such antennas is a scientific innovation and builds on the experience of the IETR and Thales in this field, connecting them around the concepts of compact broadband antennas and directives.The exploitation of ferrite-type materials is particularly planned in this context of targets detection.

The control of design, development and validation relies on virtual prototyping and real-field measurements for operational validation. The methodology used to get a robust approach is a matter of industrial innovation.The feasibility study of the antenna is based on commercial codes (Feko, CST, HFSS), based on antenna simulations and its very close environment. The extraction of digital dipole models of antenna will allow a strong or weak hybridization with the 3D code FDTD TEMSI-FD to take into account the coupling with the platform.

Computational simulation tool as a service for wearable tech wireless design

• Funding Authority: DGE (Direction Générale des Entreprises)
• Project duration: 1-01-2015 / 1-01-2018
• Partners: THALES Communications & Security, Cityzen Sciences, ONERA, IRMA, BodyCap

HOROCH (in french for “Utilisation des HPC pour l’Optimisation des Radiocommunications des Objets Connectés proches de l’Homme” is devoted to the development of a high performance computation simulation tool aiming at optimizing the wireless body area network (WBAN). The purpose is to be able to evaluate the effects of the human body on electromagnetic waves propagation with high accuracy to optimize and improve the wearable technology.

This simulation tool is based upon the lastest research innovations in the electromagnetic simulation area. It embeds a Discontinuous Galerkin Time Domain solver (TETA) particularly powerful to study multi-scale systems, and highly optimized (OpenCL optimization on CPU and GPU) both for HPC clusters and classical work stations. The preprocessing is performed by a specific environment that allows construction of models combining geometric precision and electromagnetic constraints, in particular inside and close to the human body.

The aims of this project, relying on our partners Thales, Bodycap-medical http://bodycap-medical.com/ (miniaturized sensors for the medical sector) and Cityzen Sciences http://www.cityzensciences.fr/ (smart textile) is dual. In the first place to estimate the accuracy and the robustness of the methodology to assess the effects of the human body on electromagnetic waves propagation. In the second place, to evaluate finely the needs and expectations of the Wearable, Quantified-Self and i-Healthcare industries.

Towards better consideration of cable bundles close to the walls applied to the EMC

• Funding Authority: DGA (French MOD) – ASTRID
• Project duration: 1-02-2013 / 1-02-2016
• Partners: Dassault Aviation, XLIM Institute

The XLIM research institute has been developing a numerical calculation tool based on the finite difference method in the time domain (FDTD) for many years. This tool, distributed by AxesSim with its dedicated environment (CuToo-FD) makes it possible to treat the EMC of large systems.

The CuToo-FD simulation environment has the particularity to possess a robust and performing model of diagonal wire developed by the XLIM Institute. This formalism has demonstrated all its robustness when taking into account a complete topology of Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 7X cables. As a result, we have shown that it is possible to deal with a single tool all the complexity of a structure such as an aircraft with an electromagnetic model projected on a cartesian grid and also including the wiring with a remarkable flexibility.

Today’s challenge is to take into account the curved geometries in a most appropriate way. Indeed, the bundles of cables run along the walls so the estimation of the electromagnetic fields close to the walls is crucial. To do so, the Conforme project aims at using the FDTD techniques in order to avoid the projection in a Cartesian grid. Moreover to adapt the formalism of thin wires to allow them a close proximity to the compliant walls. Finally it is at taking into account the strong variations of fields strongly related to the static.

Electromagnetic Modeling and Simulation of aeronautic complex systems from 10kHz up to 40GHz

• Funding Authority: European Commision – FP7
• Project duration: 1-12-2008 / 1-06-2013
• Partners: 45 european partners (Airframers, Software houses, Tests labs, Research institutes, Universities)
• External link: http://hirfse.axessim.eu/

Modern airframe design is exploiting new exciting developments in materials and structures to construct ever more efficient air vehicle. These developments are driven by the economics of fuel efficiency and environmental sustainability, and the competition between airframe manufacturers both in the developed world and increasingly in the developing world. The ElectroMagnetic environment in which air vehicles have to operate is becoming increasingly complex with developing threats arising outside the air vehicle and the demand from passengers to operate increasing numbers of diverse personal electronic devices within the cabin in flight. The HIRF SE project has the goal of providing the European aeronautics industry with a computational framework which can be used in the development phase to enable ElectroMagnetic aspects of the airframe design to be accounted for at an early stage of the design process. Currently much of this work has to be done at the test phase risking considerable re-work costs if problems arise. Application of the HIRF SE framework will thus confer a substantial economic benefit. In addition it will provide a considerable reduction in the certification and qualification tests required on an air vehicle. This proposal has brought together a large community of airframe manufacturers, research institutes and universities all with significant expertise in the aeronautics applications of ElectroMagnetics. The consortium has significant membership from recent accession states. The expected results to be included in the computational framework are summarised as follows. – Capability to deal with the increased use of composite materials and structures by the airframe industry. The HIRF SE framework will include the most advanced computational models for the numerical simulation of the EM characteristics and performance of composite materials. – Capability to deal with the complete internal and external electromagnetic environment (present and foreseen). The HIRF SE framework will be able to simulate a wide spread typology and number of EM (internal and external) interference sources. – A developed methodology and tool well recognised inside the civil aviation community in accordance with the certification bodies. The HIRF-SE framework (CuToo), developed by AxesSim, is a collaborative work platform that is primarily designed for managing scientific data and computations. CuToo enables to use all simulation software provided by the partners and plugged in the the HIRF-SE platform in consistency with the certification process defined by airframe manufacturers.