Applying continuum design sensitivity analysis combined with standard EM software to shape optimization in magnetostatic problems

This paper explores the physical meaning of pseudosources of an adjoint system in a continuum design sensitivity analysis (CDSA) when applied to shape optimization in magnetostatics. An efficient and practical way to compute the required gradient information with standard electromagnetic (EM) software packages is suggested. Based on this novel methodology, designers will be able to deal with practical design optimization of electro-mechanical devices using existing analysis tools without the need to access the complicated code of the EM software. The applicability of the proposed methodology is demonstrated by optimizing the salient pole face shape of a high-temperature superconducting synchronous generator.