Coupled Magnetothermal Analysis of Gradient Coils in MRI Scanners

This paper describes the coupled electromagnetic-thermal analysis of gradient coils for magnetic resonance imaging. This application deserves special attention because the eddy-current analysis of gradient coils is usually performed using filamentary and shell elements, while thermal analysis requires volume elements. This paper aims to present a seamless method to couple the mixed-element discretizations (1D, 2D, and 3D) and to project the outputs of eddy currents simulation into the corresponding thermal sources. Special attention is devoted to the management of closed domains within the integral shell element formulation.