Coupling finite elements and analytical solution in the airgap of electric machines

A method for coupling an analytical magnetic field solution in the airgap of an electric machine with standard finite element equations used to model the rest of the machine is presented. The proposed method eliminates the need for finite elements in the airgap, thereby facilitating the modeling of rotor motion and allowing for higher accuracy in the airgap field solution. An example compares the accuracy of a standard finite element solution with one obtained from the proposed method, using a purely analytical solution as a reference.