Structural Topology Optimization of High- Speed Permanent Magnet Machine Rotor

We study the structural topology optimization (TO) of a high-speed electrical machine rotor. The electromagnetic design of the machine is taken as a starting point for the optimization. The optimization design space is chosen to be the area where the magnetic flux does not exceed the level of 0.6 T. The structural TO problem is formulated using material density TO and globally convergent method of moving asymptotes. Our objective is to minimize the mass of the rotor core with the upper limit of the total elastic strain energy as a constraint. The TO results in a lighter, i.e. compact, yet mechanically strong and feasible rotor design. It is confirmed by electromagnetic finite element analyses that the obtained TO design meets the expected electromechanical performance.