Combined Model for Simulating the Effect of Transients on a Damaged Rotor Cage

The expansion of the transient operation of electrical machines as, for instance, in vehicle traction applications, demands an accurate computation of the thermal behavior under these conditions in order to enhance the economy of the design and provide a precise estimation of the overload capacity. In addition, heavy transients have been identified as specially damaging for the rotor cage of large induction motors. The aim of this paper is the development of a model able to simulate in detail the thermal and mechanical effects of a heavy transient on an induction's motor rotor featuring a damaged (with a reduced section on one of its ends) rotor bar. Some preliminary results that provide a qualitative understanding of the development of a bar breakage during a fatigue test are presented.