SSEC, Bhavnagar

FEM Introduction

Dr. Ketan Badgujar

Professor & Head
Electrical Engg.Dept
SSEC Bhavnagar
dr.ketanbadgujar@gmail.com

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SSEC, Bhavnagar
Need for EM Field Computation

Computation of magnetic fields is required in all low frequency
and high frequency devices for:
 Evaluation and improvement of performance parameters at the
design stage

 Reliability enhancement

 Investigative analysis

Field computation provides a non-destructive technique for

testing and evaluation

In order to optimize material costs, in the present-day highly
global market, an accurate understanding and analysis of the
field distribution is necessary

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SSEC, Bhavnagar
Which Parameters Need to be Computed Using FEM
Analysis

Inductances and capacitances

Eddy current losses in windings and structural parts

Circulating current losses in windings / inadvertently formed loops

Forces in windings and current carrying bars / terminations

Mechanical deformation in windings and clamping structures

Temperature rise of core, oil, windings and structural parts

Mechanical stresses in tank

Electrostatic stresses in insulation

Oil velocity inside windings

Magnetostriction and load-controlled noise

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SSEC, Bhavnagar
Methods for Computation of Fields

Analytical Methods:
 Separation of Variables
 Method of Images
 Conformal Mapping
 Schwartz-Christoffel Transformation

Analog Methods:
 Conducting Paper and Electrolytic Tank Analysis

These methods cannot be applied for:
 Complex Geometries
 Non-uniformities, anisotropic conditions and non-linearity in
material properties

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SSEC, Bhavnagar
Numerical Methods

Tremendous advances in the computational domain and
improvements in algorithmic techniques have contributed to
the success of numerical techniques

Analytical
 Closed form solutions are
possible
 If solutions are available, they are
exact
 Dependence of the field on
various factors can be easily
determined
 Applicable to 1-D and some 2-D
problems
Numerical
 Any complex geometry can be
handled
 Can be applied to even 3-D problems
 Non-uniformities, material
discontinuities and material
anisotropies can be taken into
account
 Applicable for a wide range of
problems
 The solutions are reasonably accurate
for engineering purposes

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Computational Methods

Difference methods:
 Finite difference method (FDM)
 Finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD)

Variational / weighted residual approach:
 Finite element method (FEM)

Integral methods:
 Method of moments (MoM)
 Boundary element method (BEM)
 Charge simulation method (CSM)

Other methods:
 Reluctance network or magnetic equivalent circuit method (MEC)
M. N. O. Sadiku, Numerical Techniques in Electromagnetics, CRC Press, 1992 6
SSEC, Bhavnagar
Finite Element Method (FEM)

FEM, the most popular numerical technique, can be used to
compute various performance parameters in transformers

Advantages of FEM analysis:
 The formulation is independent of the problem’s
geometrical/material complexity
 Anisotropic, non-uniform and non-linear media can be
incorporated into the solution scheme
 Availability of several commercial softwares makes applicability
to real-life transformer problems easier
 Finite element method can also be used in solving problems
which involve coupling of electromagnetic fields with circuits
and/or other physical fields

Bastos and Sodowski, Electromagnetic Modeling by Finite Element Methods, Marcel

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Dekker, Inc. New York, 2003
 2-D FEM: Basic Steps
SSEC, Bhavnagar

3 (x3,y3)

For a given triangular finite element,
potential u on any point in the element
e
can be approximated as,
1 2
u = a + bx + cy (x1,y1) (x2,y2)

Potentials at the nodes 1, 2 and 3 are expressed as,

−11
−
 u1  1 x1 y1  a  a  1 x1 y1   u1 
          
u 2  = 1 x2 y 2  b  ⇒ b  = 1 x2 y 2  u 2 
u  1 x y3   c   c  1 x3 y3  u 
 3  3  3

Substituting a, b and c in the expression for u,

u = N1 ( x, y )u1 + N 2 ( x, y )u 2 + N 3 ( x, y )u 3

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 2-D FEM: Basic Steps
SSEC, Bhavnagar

Field distribution is computed such that total energy content in

the system is minimized

Approach:
 Find energy of each element and form corresponding coefficient
matrix for each element
1 1
= ε ∫∫ E dΩ = ε ∫∫ −∇u dΩ For an electrostatic case
2 2
Eelem
2 Ω 2 Ω where E is electric field

 Substituting u in terms of u1, u2 and u3 gives 9 terms, i.e., 3×3

element coefficient matrix (has information of geometry and
material properties)
 Use all such element matrices to form global coefficient matrix

Global coefficient matrix can be assembled using all such 3×3
matrices depending upon connectivity between nodes
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 Classification of FEM Problems
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Static formulation: field quantities are calculated at one instant

of time
 Example: Insulation stress analysis, leakage inductance
computation

Time-harmonic formulation: all field quantities vary
sinusoidally; hence applicable for linear problems
 Example: Computation of eddy current losses in structural parts
(tank and frames)

Transient formulation: non-linearities can be accounted
 Example: Computation of inrush current

Coupled problems
 Examples: Analysis of mechanical deformation due to
electromagnetic forces, noise level prediction
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 Coupled Systems: Real-Life Design Problems
SSEC, Bhavnagar

Coupled interactions
in Transformers

S. V. Kulkarni, “Coupled Field Computations for Analysis of Intricate Phenomena in

Transformers,” Advanced Research Workshop on Transformers, Baiona, Spain, October, 11
28-31, 2007, pp. 172-186
SSEC, Bhavnagar
Steps in FEM: Summary

1. Creation of geometry
2. Solution approximation (choice of type of finite element)
3. Meshing, definition of materials
4. Calculation of element coefficient matrices
5. Formation of global coefficient matrix
6. Imposition of boundary conditions
7. Solution of linear system of equations
8. Post-processing (getting desired performance parameters from
the obtained field solution)

Steps 4, 5 and 7 are done internally by commercial FEM softwares

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 FEM Formulation
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A −V ,ψ
Problem Statement Maxwell’s Equations
T − Ω,Ω
Interface conditions
T −ψ ,ψ
Formulation of Mathematical Model
A −V , A
Discretization Variational Method
Galerkin’s Method
Shape Functions Formulation of Element Equations

Rectangular Assembly of Element

Triangular Equations in Global Form
Brick
Tetrahedral
[K ]{A} = { f } Boundary Conditions

LU Decomposition
Cholesky Decomposition Linear System Solution
CG Method
Analysis of Results

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Lets do it ourself

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