Analysis of grounding performances of car body by means of FEM shell elements

This paper deals with the EMC topic of the grounding systems that ensure the current return to its source in modern cars. Such vehicles are increasingly equipped by electric cables and their chassis is used as reference conductor. The 3D modeling analysis is accomplished thanks to a specific Finite Element formulation: the thin conducting shells coupled with an external circuit. The developed numerical method and several significant simulation results obtained on an automotive test case are presented in this paper. The analysis of the paths followed by the current and of the magnetic fields radiated around the car body and on the areas occupied by passengers are shown and discussed.