Transient analysis of an electromagnetic actuator using an overlapping finite element scheme

The authors describe the modeling of the transient dynamic behavior of a solenoidal core type electromagnetic actuator using an overlapping finite element (FE) scheme. The FE scheme allows two topologically unconnected 2D finite element meshes to slide over and overlap each other, whilst still coupled together electromagnetically in a consistent manner. The result is that the same set of FE meshes can be used to model directly a continuously shrinking or expanding air gap. This paper demonstrates, for the first time, that such a FE scheme can be used to model accurately the dynamic closing of the air gap of a linear actuator. The results of the simulation were compared with experimental measurements. It is shown that good agreement between simulated and measured results is obtained