Cobham Technical Services has extended the multiphysics capabilities of its Opera-3D finite element software for electromagnetic design with a new solver that can be used to analyze natural vibration modes. The tool is expected to prove useful for electrical machine developers, who can employ it to investigate and minimize forces that might cause oscillations close to the natural frequencies of the equipment, and thereby avoid excessive vibration or collisions between rotating and stationary parts, the company says. According to the company, one of the key benefits of this capability is a further reduction in the need to create physical prototypes to explore the behavior of a proposed design concept. "Finite element simulation is the most practical tool for exploring design concepts and validating device performance. Adoption from the outset of the design process can stimulate innovation and lead to designs which are right first time," said Jeremy Howard-Knight of Cobham Technical Services. "With engineering skills at a premium, design automation using computer modeling is an extremely effective investment that companies can make to ensure successful products and a continuing flow of design ideas." The new modal solver (known as STRESS/EV) finds a user-specified number of eigenvalues within a specified frequency range and calculates the eigenvectors of each mode. It works in conjunction with the static stress analysis capability of Opera, which calculates the deformation, stresses and strains of a body which is subject to external and internal forces. The forces calculated from electromagnetic fields can be used as input to the stress analysis. STRESS/EV accommodates isotropic, orthotropic and fully anisotropic materials, the properties of which can be specified as a constant or an expression. The program uses the Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and shear modulus of the material, together with its elasticity matrix if it is fully anisotropic. For more information, visit Cobham Technical Services. Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.
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