Three dimensional transient modeling of a halbach rotor moving above a conductive guideway using fictitious magnetic charge

An efficient three-dimensional transient finite element method for calculating the lift, thrust and lateral forces created when a magnetic rotor is both translationally moved and rotated above an aluminum sheet guideway is presented. The rotor field is calculated from an equivalent fictitious magnetic charge sheet formula. The rotor field´s effect on the guideway is accounted for by incorporating the field terms into the guideway boundary conditions. This model is validated by comparing it with steady-state experimental and finite element calculations.