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Ma g ne t i c Da mpi ng of V i br a t i ng
C onduc t i ng S ol i ds
Introduction
When a conductive solid material moves through a static magnetic field, an eddy
current is induced. The current that flows through the conductor, which is itself
moving through the magnetic field, induces a Lorentz force back on the solid.
Therefore, a conducting solid that is vibrating in a static magnetic field will experience
a structural damping.
This example computes the effect on the magnetic field when a cantilever beam is
harmonically excited across a range of frequencies and placed in a strong magnetic
field. The approach presented here assumes that the relative magnitude of the
structural displacements are small, that the material has isotropic and linear properties,
and that the magnetic field is static.
Note: This model requires the AC/DC Module and either the Structural Mechanics
Module or the MEMS Module.
Wire
Cantilever
beam
Current
Magnetic field
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Figure 1: A vibrating beam next to a current carrying wire experiences magnetic
damping.
Model Definition
For a solid material experiencing a time-harmonic forced excitation, the displacement
field is of the form
which can also be written in the frequency domain as a phasor:
Thus, the velocity field is given by
Next, consider the effect of a spatially non-uniform but static magnetic field, B(r).
Under the assumption that the local displacements are small enough so that each
u r t , ( ) u

r ( ) t ( ) sin =
u r t , ( ) Re u

r ( )e
it
( ) =
v r t , ( ) Re iu

r ( )e
it
( ) =
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moving point in the solid sees only the magnetic field in the undeformed state, the
induced current density is given by
where is the material conductivity. The body forces experienced by a
current-carrying domain moving through a magnetic field are given by
These body forces can be applied to the frequency domain structural mechanics
problem and act as a damping on the system.
This model first computes the static magnetic field due to a current-carrying wire
which is next to an aluminum beam. In the second solution step, the beam experiences
a forced harmonic vibration. The strength of the magnetic field is varied, and the effect
of the magnetic damping on the response of the system is observed.
Results and Discussion
Figure 2 shows the magnetic field computed for the structure at rest. Figure 3 displays
the magnitude of the displacement of the tip of the beam versus excitation frequency
for two different magnetic field intensities for the frequency-domain structural
dynamics problem. The magnetic field provides significant additional damping.
Figure 4 plots the body forces due to the induced currents.
J
i
v B r ( ) =
F
B
J
i
B r ( ) =
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Figure 2: The magnetic field around a current carrying wire.
Figure 3: Displacement of the tip of the beam versus excitation frequency for differing
magnetic field strengths.
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Figure 4: The body forces on the beam due to the induced currents.
Notes About the COMSOL Implementation
Solve this model with two physics interfaces: Magnetic and Electric Fields and Solid
Mechanics. Use a Stationary study for the Magnetic and Electric Fields and a
Frequency Domain study for Solid Mechanics.
Model Library path: ACDC_Module/Motors_and_Actuators/magnetic_damping
Modeling Instructions
MO D E L WI Z A R D
1 Go to the Model Wizard window.
2 Click Next.
3 In the Add physics tree, select AC/DC>Magnetic and Electric Fields (mef).
4 Click Add Selected.
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5 In the Add physics tree, select Structural Mechanics>Solid Mechanics (solid).
6 Click Add Selected.
7 Click Next.
8 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Custom Studies>Empty Study.
9 Click Finish.
G L O B A L D E F I N I T I O N S
Parameters
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Global Definitions and choose Parameters.
2 In the Parameters settings window, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
You will use the applied current as a sweep parameter later.
G E O ME T R Y 1
Block 1
First, create a block for the simulation domain.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Geometry 1 and choose Block.
Block 2
Add a block describing the cantilever beam.
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 1 and choose Block.
2 In the Block settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width edit field, type 0.9.
4 In the Depth edit field, type 0.025.
5 In the Height edit field, type 0.1.
6 Locate the Position section. In the y edit field, type 0.575.
7 In the z edit field, type 0.45.
Cylinder 1
Next, add a cylinder for the wire generating the static magnetic field.
Name Expression Description
sigma 3.774e7[S/m] Material conductivity
a_c 50000[A] Applied current on the wire
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1 Right-click Geometry 1 and choose Cylinder.
2 In the Cylinder settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type 0.05.
4 Locate the Position section. In the x edit field, type 0.5.
5 In the y edit field, type 0.5.
6 Click the Build All button.
7 Click the Wireframe Rendering button on the Graphics toolbar.
D E F I N I T I O N S
Add variables for the induced current density and body force on the cantilever beam.
Variables 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Definitions and choose
Variables.
2 In the Variables settings window, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.
4 Select Domain 2 only.
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5 Locate the Variables section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Here, the mef. and solid. prefixes are for the physics interfaces Magnetics and
Electric Fields and Solid Mechanics, respectively.
MA G N E T I C A N D E L E C T R I C F I E L D S
Ampre's Law 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Magnetic and Electric Fields and choose
Ampre's Law.
2 Select Domains 1 and 2 only.
Name Expression Description
Ji_x sigma*(solid.u_tY*mef.B
z-solid.u_tZ*mef.By)
Induced current density,
x-component
Ji_y sigma*(solid.u_tZ*mef.B
x-solid.u_tX*mef.Bz)
Induced current density,
y-component
Ji_z sigma*(solid.u_tX*mef.B
y-solid.u_tY*mef.Bx)
Induced current density,
z-component
F_B_x Ji_y*mef.Bz-Ji_z*mef.By Body force, x-component
F_B_y Ji_z*mef.Bx-Ji_x*mef.Bz Body force, y-component
F_B_z Ji_x*mef.By-Ji_y*mef.Bx Body force, z-component
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Magnetic Insulation 2
1 Right-click Magnetic and Electric Fields and choose Magnetic Insulation.
2 Select Boundaries 13 and 14 only.
Ground 1
1 Right-click Model 1>Magnetic and Electric Fields>Magnetic Insulation 2 and choose
Ground.
2 Select Boundary 13 only.
Terminal 1
1 Right-click Magnetic Insulation 2 and choose Terminal.
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2 Select Boundary 14 only.
3 In the Terminal settings window, locate the Terminal section.
4 In the I
0
edit field, type a_c.
S O L I D ME C H A N I C S
Solid Mechanics analyzes only the cantilever beam.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 click Solid Mechanics.
2 Select Domain 2 only.
Linear Elastic Material 1
Add a damping factor on Linear Elastic Material Model 1.
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Solid Mechanics node.
Damping 1
2 Right-click Linear Elastic Material 1 and choose Damping.
3 In the Damping settings window, locate the Damping Settings section.
4 From the Damping type list, choose Isotropic loss factor.
5 From the
s
list, choose User defined. In the associated edit field, type 0.1.
Fixed Constraint 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Solid Mechanics and choose Fixed Constraint.
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2 Select Boundary 5 only.
Boundary Load 1
1 Right-click Solid Mechanics and choose Boundary Load.
2 Select Boundary 17 only.
3 In the Boundary Load settings window, locate the Force section.
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4 In the F
A
table, enter the following settings:
Body Load 1
1 Right-click Solid Mechanics and choose Body Load.
2 Select Domain 2 only.
3 In the Body Load settings window, locate the Force section.
4 In the F
V
table, enter the following settings:
MA T E R I A L S
Material Browser
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Materials and choose Open
Material Browser.
2 In the Material Browser settings window, In the tree, select Built-In>Aluminum.
0 x
1e4 y
0 z
F_B_x x
F_B_y y
F_B_z z
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3 Click Add Material to Model.
Aluminum
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Materials click Aluminum.
2 Select Domains 2 and 3 only.
Material Browser
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Materials and choose Open Material Browser.
2 In the Material Browser settings window, In the tree, select Built-In>Air.
3 Click Add Material to Model.
Air
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Materials click Air.
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2 Select Domain 1 only.
ME S H 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 click Mesh 1.
2 In the Mesh settings window, locate the Mesh Settings section.
3 From the Element size list, choose Coarser.
S T U D Y 1
Parametric Sweep
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Parametric Sweep.
2 In the Parametric Sweep settings window, locate the Study Settings section.
3 Click Add.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:
Step 1: Stationary
1 Right-click Study 1 and choose Study Steps>Stationary.
2 In the Stationary settings window, locate the Physics and Variables Selection section.
3 Select the Modify physics tree and variables for study step check box.
Parameter names Parameter value list
a_c 0[A] 50000[A]
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4 In the Physics and variables selection tree, select Model 1>Solid Mechanics.
5 Click Disable.
Step 2: Frequency Domain
1 Right-click Study 1 and choose Study Steps>Frequency Domain.
2 In the Frequency Domain settings window, locate the Study Settings section.
3 In the Frequencies edit field, type range(5,0.5,50).
4 In the Model Builder window, click Step 2: Frequency Domain.
5 In the Frequency Domain settings window, locate the Physics and Variables Selection
section.
6 Select the Modify physics tree and variables for study step check box.
7 In the Physics and variables selection tree, select Model 1>Magnetic and Electric Fields.
8 Click Provide Degrees of Freedom.
9 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Compute.
R E S U L T S
Magnetic Flux Density Norm (mef)
The first default plot group shows the he magnetic field around a current carrying
wire; compare with Figure 2.
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Stress (solid)
The second default plot shows the von Mises stress.
3D Plot Group 3
Add a third plot group with an arrow plot of the body force on the cantilever beam
(Figure 4).
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 3D Plot Group.
2 Right-click 3D Plot Group 3 and choose Arrow Volume.
3 In the Arrow Volume settings window, locate the Expression section.
4 In the X component edit field, type F_B_x.
5 In the Y component edit field, type F_B_y.
6 In the Z component edit field, type F_B_z.
7 Locate the Arrow Positioning section. Find the X grid points subsection. In the Points
edit field, type 40.
8 Find the Y grid points subsection. In the Points edit field, type 40.
9 Find the Z grid points subsection. In the Points edit field, type 1.
10 Click the Plot button.
11 Click the Zoom In button on the Graphics toolbar.
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1D Plot Group 4
Finish by adding the displacement plot of the tip of the beam.
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the 1D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Solution 3.
4 Click to expand the Axis section. Select the y-axis log scale check box.
5 Right-click Results>1D Plot Group 4 and choose Point Graph.
6 Select Point 18 only.
7 In the Point Graph settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right
corner of the y-Axis Data section. From the menu, choose Solid
Mechanics>Displacement>Displacement, RMS (solid.disp_rms).
8 Click to expand the Legends section. Select the Show legends check box.
9 Click the Plot button.
Compare the resulting plot with that shown in Figure 3.
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