FEM and evolution strategies in the optimal design of electromagnetic devices

The application of evolution strategies to the optimal design of electromagnetic devices is investigated. The corresponding field analysis is performed by the finite element method. The strategies involve a simplified simulation of biological evolution. They are especially advantageous in the case of strongly nonlinear optimization problems. The three strategies used are the (1+1), the (1,6), and the (10,100) schemes. They are compared with the Gauss-Seidel method with reference to the example of a dipole magnet to be optimized in order to obtain a homogeneous magnetic field under the pole. A two-dimensional model and a three-dimensional model have been investigated with both linear and nonlinear material characteristics assumed