DPS Advances in Digital Engineering: Presentation of the CST Studio Suite Solution
Presentation of DPS
DPS — Digital Product Simulation — is a services company operating across three sites in France: La Celle-Saint-Cloud in the Paris region (main site), Toulouse and Bordeaux. We work across the aerospace, automotive, defense and energy sectors, with 130 employees distributed across these sites, delivering either fixed-price services from our own facilities or on-site technical assistance at client premises.
Our activities cover four domains:
— Engineering services and numerical simulation (multiphysics, structural, thermal, electromagnetic, 0D/1D)
— Qualiopi-certified training on simulation software, particularly Dassault Systèmes products
— Custom software development: process automation and tool development
— Reselling of Dassault Systèmes software, including CST Studio Suite
DPS's core business is design, simulation and the link between the two, with expertise in PLM, MBSE (Model-Based System Engineering) and SPDM (Simulation Process Data Management).
Presentation of CST Studio Suite
CST Studio Suite is an electromagnetic simulation software published by Dassault Systèmes. It covers three main simulation domains.
High-Frequency Simulations
Dedicated to antennas, radars and electromagnetic radiation. CST offers several solvers adapted to the electrical size of the model:
— Frequency-domain solver (F): finite element method, suited to complex structures with small features
— Time-domain solver (T): suited to mid-size antennas with radiation patterns
— Integral solver: suited to large metallic surfaces
— Asymptotic solver: large structures (radars, large antennas) using ray tracing techniques
Low-Frequency Simulations
Suited to frequencies typical of domestic alternating current. Several solvers are available:
— Electrostatic solver: electric potential calculation (e.g. breakdown analysis)
— Magnetostatic solver: magnetic field calculation (magnets, coils)
— Stationary current solver: current density calculation, Joule heating, voltage drops
— Dynamic frequency-domain and time-domain solvers: transient electromagnetics
— Partial RLC solver: calculation of RLC characteristics of a 3D component (cable conductivity, component characterization)
Multiphysics Simulations
— Thermal conduction solver: static or transient regime
— Conjugate heat transfer solver: coupling of conduction, radiation and convection using CFD methods
— Mechanical solver: thermal deformation calculation
A typical coupling workflow: Joule heating calculation via the stationary current solver → transfer to the thermal solver → deformation calculation via the mechanical solver.
General CST Simulation Workflow
The process unfolds in four steps.
3D Geometry Creation
Either through direct modeling (geometric primitives, Boolean operations) or through file import in formats including STEP, STL, SIS, CATIA V5 and others.
Data Setup
CST offers a predefined materials library for fast setup, along with various source types (electric potential, current input, coil) associated with each solver.
Meshing
Two mesh types are available: hexahedral or tetrahedral depending on the solver used. The time-domain solver (T) has a notable feature: it supports up to two materials per mesh cell. Refinement and mesh control tools allow precision to be optimized without overloading the calculation.
Post-Processing
CST provides advanced visualization tools: scale adjustment, current streamlines, field arrows. The key feature is the post-processing template system, which automatically generates 1D or 2D results (curves, current densities along a line or face) without external algorithms. These templates are fully automated: if a parameter is modified and the calculation relaunched, curves are recomputed automatically. They also enable automatic exports and field combinations.
Case Study: Electrolyzer Stack Simulation
In partnership with the company STAC, DPS carried out an electromagnetic simulation study on an electrolyzer stack. The objective was to determine current distribution and heating patterns within the component.
Two key CST features proved particularly valuable in this case study.
Solver Coupling
Electromagnetic-thermal coupling allows the geometry, materials and thermal fields from the electromagnetic model to be automatically imported into the thermal model, quickly and intuitively. This coupled workflow provides a complete picture of the stack's thermal behavior under varying electrical conditions.
Parameterization and Parameter Sweeps
CST allows model parameters (current intensity, plate thickness) to be modified without rebuilding the model. From this parameterization, an automatic sweep chains calculations across different parameter values. Combined with solver coupling and post-processing templates, this automatically generates heating curves as a function of current intensity — particularly useful for pre-sizing studies and thermal compliance verification.
Other Notable Features
— Python and VBA automation for scripting repetitive operations
— GPU integration to accelerate calculations using graphics processing units
— 3D-to-schematic simulation coupling: integrating a 3D component into an RLC circuit or electrical schematic (e.g. a characterized cable integrated into a circuit diagram)
— Built-in optimizer: automatic search for the optimal parameter value for a given target (e.g. antenna thickness for the best S-parameter)
— EDA import: fast import of PCB components and printed circuit boards
