Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
(OP)
I don't know anything about FEA programs but I was told to use one instead of trying to calculate everything myself.
I'm trying to find out the force exerted by the solenoid on an object on axis beyond the pole. I was wondering if anyone here knows the best FEA to use for this kind of analysis.
I'm trying to find out the force exerted by the solenoid on an object on axis beyond the pole. I was wondering if anyone here knows the best FEA to use for this kind of analysis.





RE: Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
RE: Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
I've been using Infolytica's Magnet for about 10 years. Their 2D solver is very good. It can do electrical transients with motion.
RE: Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
Is there an FEA that can also work out the Force applied to an object at X range?
I'll check out Infolytica's Magnet in the mean time. (MagNet v7 seems to be the latest on from them)
RE: Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
RE: Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
I use Flux3D, from Magsoft. It certainly has the capability to do what you want. I would consider this solution a very pricey one. If one of the free packages offered will do the job, you should use it. There is a free book by Charles Reginald Underhill, Solenoids, electromagnets and electromagnetic windings at http://books.google.com/books?id=QN0EAAAAYAAJ
It doesn't cost anything to take a look.
RE: Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
After analysis you move to VieW results. Mark the plunger as a block and select Integrate, Force via Weighted stress Tensor.
RE: Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
Ledex® Low Profile solenoids are good example. If you will do an analysis of such solenoids you will find that theoretically it should give much higher loads than the catalog says.
Standard FEA will not do transient analysis (including current changes from the voltage step command until final movement of the plunger, or a solenoid operated by a discharged capacitor) which is a must when designing a fast action ON-OFF solenoid valve.
RE: Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
Mike
RE: Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
Clyde38 - that book looks very interesting, I'll have to read it some time.
RE: Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
I agree that axisymmetric analysis ignores side loads but so does a 3D solution if you use perfect CAD geometry, you will have to model eccentricity to get side loads. 3D is generally much too expensive & slow to bother with in solenoid applications.
Infolytica can do a true transient with motion if you have the correct solver options.
RE: Which FEA should I use for solenoid calculations?
Fe