Electric Circuit Analysis using Finite Element Modeling

Electric circuit analysis determines the voltage and current distribution in an electric circuit due to applied source voltages or currents. In a static (DC) electric circuit analysis, the voltage and current distribution in an electric circuit is determined that is subjected to applied DC source voltages or currents. In a harmonic (AC) electric circuit analysis, the voltage and current distribution in an electric circuit is determined that is subjected to applied AC source voltages or currents. A transient electric circuit analysis analyzes an electric circuit subjected to time-varying source voltage or currents. The analysis determines the voltage and current distribution in an electric circuit as a function of time. Realizing the full potential of FEA simulation in electromagnetics requires complete flexibility in simulating circuit-fed electromagnetic devices. The ANSYS/Emag program (ANSYS Inc.) has the following capabilities for circuit analysis: a modified nodal analysis method for simulating circuits; direct coupling of circuits to stranded coils and massive conductors; coupling for both 2-D and 3-D models; support for DC, AC, and timetransient simulations. The advanced circuit-coupled simulation available in the ANSYS/Emag program allows for accurate simulation of items such as those listed below: solenoid actuators; transformers; AC machines.