External circuit, movement, and periodicity considerations in the design of electrical machines using finite elements

Electrical machines are often quite complicated objects. They can contain features such as magnetic nonlinearity, movement, geometric complexity and connection to an external circuit. Finite element computer modelling of some of these features is described and some examples are given. In particular, we concentrate on the connection of a machine to an external circuit, movement and periodicity. A switched reluctance motor is used as an example to demonstrate the external circuit connection and the sliding interface.