Four- and eight-piece Halbach array analysis and geometry optimisation for maglev

A systematic analysis approach is presented for four- and eight-piece Halbach arrays’ magnetic field and the geometric optimisation for magnetic levitation (Maglev) applications, which utilise the non-ideal array’s magnetic field harmonics. The field analysis results obtained using scalar potential and Fourier series methods are confirmed with FEM results. The geometric optimisation is based on the maximisation of the ratio of the square of flux to a unit area magnet weight. The results of the systematic analysis of magnetic field and the geometric optimisation for practical Halbach arrays can be used as a technical framework for further Maglev system designs.