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EM FAQ: How To Enable Higher Accuracy FEA Solution in Maxwell 3D Eddy Current Design?

This document provides instructions for enabling higher accuracy finite element analysis in ANSYS Maxwell 3D eddy current designs. It explains that using higher order shape functions can provide better accuracy for eddy current regions. The steps are to open the Solve Setup dialogue window and check the box for Use higher order shape functions.

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Jaime Falagan
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
118 views

EM FAQ: How To Enable Higher Accuracy FEA Solution in Maxwell 3D Eddy Current Design?

This document provides instructions for enabling higher accuracy finite element analysis in ANSYS Maxwell 3D eddy current designs. It explains that using higher order shape functions can provide better accuracy for eddy current regions. The steps are to open the Solve Setup dialogue window and check the box for Use higher order shape functions.

Uploaded by

Jaime Falagan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EM FAQ: How to enable higher accuracy FEA


solution in Maxwell 3D Eddy Current design?
Release / Version:
ANSYS Release R18.x / Electronics Desktop 2017.x - These instructions may not apply to earlier
versions. Subsequent version changes and updates may affect some details of usage.

FAQ Overview:
The eddy current solver allows the simulation of the effects of alternating currents (AC) in electromagnetic
devices — including eddy current effects in conductor structures. Typical applications are transformers,
induction machines, eddy-current braking systems, and most other electromagnetic devices utilizing AC.

The eddy currents allow magnetic fields to penetrate conductors only to depth of about 4-5 skin depths.
Field penetration in conducting bodies is a function of frequency, permeability, and conductivity.

Calculating the field and Joule heating losses accurately requires that the finite element mesh be fine
enough at the surface of the conductor to capture the surface phenomena. In general, one or two
elements at a minimum through the skin depth should be used. The skin depth estimation can be
calculated from the following equation:

2


where δ is the skin depth (in meters), ω is the angular velocity (in rad/second), μ is the absolute
permeability (in Henries/meters), and σ is conductivity (in Siemens/meter).

For 3D designs, one can optionally choose to use higher order shape functions. Enabling the higher order
option gains better accuracy for eddy current regions.

Keywords: Maxwell, Skin depth, Higher order shape function, Eddy current solver.

Solution:
Setting up the higher order shape function
This can be done only for a Maxwell 3D eddy current design

1. Open the Solve Setup dialogue window by Maxwell > Analysis > Add Solution Setup or
Maxwell > Analysis > Setup1 > Properties.
2. Switch to Solver panel in the Solve Setup dialogue window.
3. Check the Use higher order shape functions (see Fig. 1).

Once the Use higher order shape functions option is checked, Maxwell will consider higher order
shape functions in all conductors in the entire modeled domain, and in some cases this can lead to higher
memory requirements.

© 2016 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.


Figure 1: The Solve Setup dialogue window

Attachments: None.

© 2016 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

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