Multi-Component Layout Optimization Method for the Design of a Permanent Magnet Actuator

This paper presents a multi-component layout optimization method that incorporates a parametric and topology optimization method to determine the optimal configuration of a permanent magnet actuator (PMA). The optimal position and size of the rectangular-type PM are obtained by the design sensitivities of size parameters. The level set-based topology optimization method, which can guarantee a high degree of freedom in geometrical change, is employed to obtain the optimal distribution of the ferromagnetic material (FM) that can affect the path of the magnetic flux. The optimization problem is formulated to maximize the magnetic force of the PMA under the fixed volume fraction constraint of each material. The magnetic properties of the PM and FM, such as the magnetic relative reluctivity and the direction of the remanent magnetic flux, are calculated by the geometric parameters and the sign of the level set function. To confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method, a design example of a simple C-core actuator is provided.