If you are working with a parameterized design, CST STUDIO SUITE allows you to investigate the effects of parameter variations on all one-dimensional result curves. Parameter studies can be performed by parameter sweeps, by optimizations, or even by successive manual modifications of the parameter combination. This overview will explain how to access and visualize parametric one-dimensional data.
Once a calculation for a given parameter combination has finished, all one-dimensional result curves will be stored parametrically by default. The combination of parameters will be associated with an identifier called "3D Run ID" for results created by a 3D simulation and "Schematic Run ID" for results created by a circuit simulation. This Run ID will be used to store the result curves and allows an identification of the parameter combination that was used to create the curve.
The parametric curve is stored in addition to the result curve that is valid for the current parameter combination. Please note that the result curve for the latest parameter combination will be deleted or invalidated once a parameter is changed, but the result curves associated to a Run ID stay valid and can be accessed via the Parametric Plot mode.
The parametric result curves can be accessed similar to the normal result curves by clicking on a corresponding navigation tree entry. This will open a 1D plot showing the curves. It also activates the associated 1D plot ribbon.
In this ribbon, two icons allow switching the view mode between non-parametric and parametric results:
Single Plot mode: This will show the results that have been
calculated with the current parameter combination.
Parametric Plot mode: This will show the parametric results.
The icons will be deactivated if the corresponding data is not available. If there is only one valid option for the selected navigation tree entry, the appropriate view mode will be activated automatically.
Clicking on the parametric plot icon will open a 1D plot showing the existing parametric result curves that correspond to the selected tree item. In the curve label, the Run ID is shown.
Furthermore, an additional sheet is opened containing the Parameter View grid. It resolves the Run ID to a parameter combination and shows all existing result curves. It can be accessed by clicking on the corresponding sheet, or by selecting "Tile with Parameter View" from the drop down list of the Parametric Plot icon. The latter will adjust your window configuration such that the Parametric Plot and the Parameter View grid can both be seen at once.
In case the result curves are complex-valued (indicated by 1DC in the grid), the 1D plot ribbon can be used to switch the complex 1D view similar to the non-parametric plot mode.
The Parameter View grid can be used to select a subset of the existing parametric result curves. Clicking on the "Plot Selected" icon of the Parameter View ribbon will then update the associated 1D plot. The powerful possibilities to filter the existing result curves can be found in the description of the Parameter View.
If it is undesired that all one-dimensional result curves are stored parametrically, the automatic storage can be turned off on a tree-based selection. For 3D calculations, this option can be found in the Postprocessing ribbon under "Parametric Properties". For CST DESIGN STUDIO™, the option can be found in the "Result Settings" sheet of the Task Properties Dialog.