A new algorithm for coupled solutions of electric, magnetic and mechanical systems in dynamic simulation of solenoid actuators

An algorithm is presented for the simultaneous solutions of the coupled electric, magnetic, and mechanical problems in the dynamic simulation of a solenoid actuator. The transient nonlinear field in the coupled problem is analyzed using the finite-element (FE) method, which considers the effects of saturation, eddy current, and armature movement in the actuator. The nonlinear electronic circuit is represented by equivalent circuit equations that are coupled to the FE equations and are solved simultaneously with them in an iterative manner. Dynamic responses of the solenoid actuator predicted by using this algorithm agree closely with experimental results. The advantage of this method is that its principle is applicable to general types of power electronic devices. With suitable modifications, it can be used to simulate the dynamic responses of power-electronic-controlled electric machines