17.

0 Release

Module 01: Basics

Introduction to ANSYS Maxwell

1 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Overwiew
• Introduction to ANSYS Maxwell
• Modeling
− Geometry and Import
− Materials, boundaries and sources
• Parametrization
• Adaptive meshing
• Inductance calculation
• Postprocessing 1
• Workshop 1: Magnetostatic Analysis

2 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Overall Process Electrical
QS Solvers Machines
Module 5
Module 2
Actuators
Solenoids
Module 6
Basics Transient
Module 3
Module 1 Transformers
inductors
Post-processing Module 7

and parametric
Module 4
Multiphysics
Module 8

3 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 ANSYS is the Simulation Leader

FOCUSED TRUSTED
This is all we do.
Leading product technologies in all physics areas
Largest development team focused on simulation
96 of the top 100
FORTUNE 500 Industrials
ISO 9001 and NQA-1 certified

CAPABLE PROVEN
2,700+ Recognized as one of the world’s MOST INNOVATIVE
employees AND FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES*

75
locations INDEPENDENT
Long-term financial stability
CAD agnostic
40
countries

LARGEST
3x The size of our
nearest competitor

*BusinessWeek, FORTUNE
4 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016
 Breadth of Technologies

Fluid Mechanics: To Multiphase

From Single-Phase Flows Combustion

Structural Mechanics:
From Linear Statics To High-Speed Impact

Electromagnetics: From To High-Frequency

Low-Frequency Windings Field Analysis

Systems: To Multi-Domain
From Data Sharing System Analysis

5 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 ANSYS Customer Portal
https://support.ansys.com
Submit and review service requests
If you cannot find the answer to your question within the ANSYS Customer Portal then you can
submit a service request for technical assistance.

Download the latest software and updates

Download either ISO images or individual installer packages to access the latest software release.

Download training and tutorial materials

Examples are available for both a broad range of ANSYS products and user’s experience. Search
the hundreds of examples available and improve your knowledge of ANSYS software.

6 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Introduction to ANSYS Maxwell

• Maxwell is an electro-magnetic tool suitable to analyse low-frequency phenomena

and devices
• Maxwell is integrated into the Electronics Desktop, together with all the other
ANSYS Electromagnetic tools
• Maxwell can be integrated in the Workbench Platform for Multiphysics analysis
• Geometries can be created either directly inside Maxwell or imported from
external CAD tools
• Quasi-static Solvers offer an automatic meshing refinement algorithm
• Transient solver allows the analysis of large movements and mechanical transients

7 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Introduction to ANSYS Maxwell

• ANSYS Maxwell is a high-performance interactive software package that uses finite

element analysis (FEA) to solve electric or magnetic problems.
• Maxwell solves the electromagnetic field problems by solving Maxwell's equations
in a finite region of space with appropriate boundary conditions and user-specified
initial conditions in order to obtain a solution with guaranteed uniqueness.
𝜕𝑫
𝛻×𝑯=𝑱+
𝜕𝑡
𝛻∙𝑩=0
𝜕𝑩
𝛻×𝑬=−
𝜕𝑡
𝛻∙𝑫=𝜌

• Appropriate set of equations and its terms are used based on the solver selected
such as Electrostatic, Magnetostatic, Eddy Current and Magnetic Transient.

8 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Introduction to ANSYS Maxwell
Electromagnetic
Analysis Flowchart of General Finite Element
Analysis Method
Analytical Numerical
Techniques Techniques
Iterative • Finite elements have proven to be very robust
Closed Form
for general electromagnetic analysis

Integral Differential
Equations Equations

BEM
Boundary
Elements
Finite Finite Elements
FDM FEM
Difference

Scalar Vector Components of

Potentials Potentials H-Field
2D Electrostatic 2D Magnetostatic 3D Magnetostatic
2D/3D Thermal 2D Eddy 3D Eddy
3D Electrostatic 2D Transient 3D Transient

9 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Menu bar
Toolbars

History
tree

Project Manager
Window Modeler Window

Properties Window

Message Window Progress Window

Status Bar Coordinate Entry Field

10 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Project Manager window
– Project Manager window contains all the details of Problem Setup done for any project

Project Name (multiple projects per Desktop)

Design Name (multiple Designs per Project, Can be a
combination of Maxwell 3D, 2D, RMXprt and External
Circuit)
Design Setup

Analysis Setup (Can contain multiple setups )

Optimetrics Analysis Setups
Postprocessed Results

11 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Adding a Maxwell design

• Adding a Design to Maxwell

– A design can be added to a Maxwell project from the Project menu bar or selecting icon from
• Maxwell Design Types
– RMxprt:
• Rotating Machinery Expert is an interactive analytical tool used for designing and analyzing
electrical machines
– Maxwell 2D:
• Maxwell 2D uses Finite Element Analysis to simulate and solve 2D electromagnetic fields in XY
or RZ planes
– Maxwell 3D:
• Maxwell 3D uses Finite Element Analysis to simulate and solve three dimensional
electromagnetic fields.

Note: Most of the lectures in this course are focused on Maxwell 2D and Maxwell 3D and do not cover
RMxprt.

12 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• History Tree
– History tree contains details of all geometrical operations performed in a Design
– Any line, surface or solid objects, coordinate systems or its planes can be accessed from History tree
– Solid objects are categorized based on assigned materials in 3D while in 2D sheet objects are
categorized

• Toolbars
– Most of the menu bar commands can be accessed from Toolbar as an icon
– Toolbar can be customized to add or remove any options by right clicking on Toolbar or selecting the
menu item Tools  Customize

13 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Properties Window
– Shows all the properties of selected entities
– Selected entity can be any geometrical object, performed geometrical operations from history
tree or any added setup entities selected from Project Manager window
– Display of Properties window will change based on selected entity

Note: Double clicking on any selected entity will also initiate a dialog box for property display and
editing.

14 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Coordinate Entry Field
– This window appears whenever an operation requires entry of coordinates
– Coordinate values can be entered in Cartesian, Cylindrical or Spherical form

• Message Window
– Displays Error, Warning or Information messages resulting from an operation
– Messages can be Copy-Pasted to text file if required
• Status Bar
– Shows status of Maxwell window, prompts next course of action for any geometrical operation or
information about any command on which mouse is placed
• Progress Window
– Shows progress of Analysis operation being carried out

15 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Modeler Window
– Modeler window enables users to view and interact with geometry dynamically.
– Geometry in Modeler window can be Manipulated either using Toolbar commands or Mouse-
keyboard keys
– Right Mouse click in Modeler window also gives access to various menu bar commands through
context window
Rotate Box Zoom

Pan

Dynamic Zoom Fit to Screen

– Mouse Commands for Geometry Manipulation
• Zoom: Right click and drag the mouse button with SHIFT+ALT pressed
• Pan: Right click and drag the mouse button with SHIFT pressed
• Rotate: Right click and drag the mouse button with ALT pressed

16 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Solvers in Maxwell
• Setting a Solver Type
– Appropriate Maxwell solver can be selected based on the application being solved.
– Solver type can be set by selecting the menu item Maxwell 3D/2D  Solution Type
– For 2D, users can also specify if the problem will be solved in XY or RZ plane

Maxwell 3D Maxwell 2D
17 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016
 Solvers in Maxwell
• Magnetic Solvers
– Magnetostatic Solver
• Solves Static magnetic fields caused by DC currents and permanent magnets. Can solve both
Linear and nonlinear materials.
– Eddy Current Solver
• Solves sinusoidally-varying magnetic fields in frequency domain. Solves both Linear and nonlinear
materials (creating energy-equivalent sinusoidal fields). Considers displacement currents. Induced
fields such as skin and current proximity effects are also considered.
– Transient Magnetic
• Solves Transient magnetic fields caused by time-varying or moving electrical sources and
permanent magnets in Linear or Non-linear materials. Induced fields such as skin and current
proximity effects are considered.

Note: Capacitive effects are not considered by Magnetic Solvers in Maxwell. These effects need to
be accounted for separately.

18 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Solvers in Maxwell
• Electric Solvers
– Electrostatic Solver
• Solves Static Electric Fields in linear materials.
– DC Conduction
• Solves for voltage, electric field, and the current density from the potential. Can solve electric
fields in insulators as well.
– AC Conduction (2D only)
• Solves sinusoidally-varying electric fields in Frequency domain. Available only with 2D solver.
– Transient Electric
• Transient electric fields caused by time-varying voltages, charge distributions, or current
excitations in inhomogeneous materials. Electric potential is the solution quantity.

19 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Maxwell files structure
• File Structure in Maxwell
– FileName.aedt
• This file contains all the information related to Maxwell project apart from results. The file is
written in ASCII format.
– FileName.aedtresults
• This folder contains the mesh and solution related files. Users need to copy both .aedt file and
this folder in order to transfer the project with results
– FileName.aedt.lock
• This is a lock file created when file is open to avoid overwriting of file from multiple sessions
– FileName.aedt.auto
• Autosave file in order to recover lost data in case of unusual file closure. Created only when
Autosave is turned ON

20 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Maxwell Folders
• Maxwell Folders
– Maxwell Folder locations can be set from the menu item Tools  Options  General  Directories
– Project: The default location where Maxwell
project file is saved
– Temp: Location for saving Temporary results
files. Files will be deleted once project is saved
– SysLib: Global level directory predefined by
ANSYS and ships with new upgrades .
– UserLib: Can host user created material
libraries or script files. Can be shared among all
users at a company
– PersonalLib: Can host user created material
libraries or script files. Accessible only the user
who creates it.

21 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Maxwell Material Libraries
• Maxwell Material Libraries
– Maxwell default material library is loaded with Maxwell installation and is available under Syslib
directory. This material database can not be modified by users
– Users can add their own material database to Personal or User library directories
– Once the file is added, users can select and assign material from the added library

22 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Maxwell Help
• Maxwell Help manual can be accessed from following locations:

– Option 1:

– Option 2: Use short cut key “F1”

23 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 17.0 Release

Adaptive Meshing and Magnetostatic Solver

Introduction to ANSYS Maxwell

24 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Maxwell Adaptive Meshing
• Adaptive Meshing
– For most of the cases, initial mesh is very coarse and more or less uniform in size throughout the region
– To achieve required level of accuracy in results, this mesh needs to be refined in areas where fields are of
interest or the field gradients are high
– Adaptive meshing provides automated mesh refinement capability based on reported energy error in
simulation
– Adaptive meshing is available only with static solvers

Initial Mesh Adaptively

Refined Mesh
25 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016
 Maxwell Adaptive Meshing
Generate Initial
• Adaptive Meshing Workflow Start
Mesh

– Adaptive meshing technique starts

with initial mesh and refines it until Solve fields using the
required accuracy (Energy % error) Finite Element Method
is met or Maximum number of
passes is reached Calculate local
Refine Mesh
Solution error

End criteria no
reached ?

yes

Calculate Outputs
(Force, Inductance, etc.)

26 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Maxwell Magnetostatic Solver
• Magnetostatic Solver
– In the Magnetostatic Solver, a static magnetic field is solved resulting from a DC current flowing
through a coil or due to a permanent magnet
– The Electric field inside the current carrying coil is completely decoupled from magnetic field
– Losses are only due to Ohmic losses in current carrying conductors
– The Magnetostatic solver utilizes the automatic adaptive mesh refinement technique
• Magnetostatic Equations
– Following Maxwell’s equations are solved with Magnetostatic solver

𝛻×𝑯=𝑱 1
𝑱𝒛 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝛻 × ∙ 𝛻 × 𝑨𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 Cartesian XY
𝜇0 𝜇𝑟
𝛻∙𝑩=0
1 Cylindrical
𝑩 = 𝜇0 𝜇𝑟 𝑯 ∙ 𝑯 𝑱𝝋 𝑟, 𝑧 = 𝛻 × ∙ 𝛻 × 𝑨𝜑 𝑟, 𝑧
𝜇0 𝜇𝑟 about Z
Maxwell 3D Maxwell 2D

27 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Selecting the Magnetostatic Solver
• Selecting the Magnetostatic Solver
– By default, any newly created design will be set as a Magnetostatic problem
– Specify the Magnetostatic Solver by selecting the menu item Maxwell 2D/3D  Solution Type
– In Solution type window, select Magnetic  Magnetostatic and press OK
– In Maxwell 2D it is possible to choose between Cartesian XY and Cylindrical about Z symmetry

Maxwell 3D Maxwell 2D
28 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016
 Materials Definition
• Magnetostatic Material Properties
– In a Magnetostatic simulation, the following parameters may be defined for a material (by clicking
on the pull-down menu under Type and Value)
 Relative Permeability
• Relative permeability can be either Simple (linear µ r) or
Nonlinear (BH Curve) or/and anisotropic
 Bulk Conductivity
• Used to determine the current distribution in conductors
• Can be Simple or Anisotropic
 Magnetic Coercivity
• Used to define permanent magnets properties.
• Requires magnitude and direction specification.
• Direction specified is with respect to Orientation CS of
bodies to which material is assigned
 Composition
• Can be Solid or Lamination
• Requires specification of direction normal to laminated
pack and stacking factor

29 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Boundary Conditions
• Assigning Boundary Conditions
– Boundary conditions define behavior of the magnetic field at the interfaces or the edges of the problem
region
– A boundary can be assigned to an edge/face from menu item Maxwell 2D/3D  Boundaries  Assign and
select the required boundary assignment
• Boundary Types (3D)
 Default (No Boundary Assigned) Neumann
When no boundary is specified for a surface, following Natural
two treatments are assigned based on the surface
position:
• Natural: for the boundaries on the interface between
objects. It describes the natural variation from one
material to the next one, as defined by material
properties H Vectors
• Neumann: For exterior boundaries of solution domain.
H Field is tangential to the boundary and flux cannot
cross it
30 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016
 Boundary Conditions
• Boundary Types (3D)
 Zero Tangential H-Field  Tangential H-Field
• Useful to assign external field. • Useful to assign external field.
• H field is normal to assigned surface • Tangential H field applied using U and V vectors
• Applied to external boundaries of the domain • Applied to external boundaries of the domain

H field on Zero H field on Tangential

Tangential H field H field boundary
boundary

 Insulating
• Same as Neumann, except that
current cannot cross the boundary.
• Used to insulate two conductors
which are in contact with each other
J Vectors without J Vectors with
insulating boundary insulating boundary
31 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016
 Boundary Conditions
• Boundary Types (2D)
 Vector Potential: Flux lines with zero
• Sets the specified value of magnetic vector Vector Potential
potential on the boundary.
• Used to model Magnetically isolated structures.

 Balloon:
• Models the region outside drawing space as
Flux lines with
being infinitely large.
Balloon
• Magnetic flux lines are neither tangential nor
normal to the boundary

Note: In 2D, no default boundary condition is assigned to the simulation region edges. Users have to
specify the behavior of simulation boundaries by assigning either Balloon or Vector Potential boundary.

32 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Boundary Conditions
Master = Slave
• Boundary Types (2D & 3D): 1/4th
Model
 Master/Slave :
• Enables to model only one period of a
periodic structure, reducing design size Master = - Slave
• Magnetic fields at Master and Slave
boundaries match each other

Symmetry Odd: Same as

default Boundary (Flux
Tangential)
 Symmetry Boundary: 1/8th
• Enables to model only part of a Model
structure, reducing design size
Symmetry Even: Same as Zero
Tangential H-Field boundary
(Flux Normal)

33 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Excitations (energy sources)
• Excitations (2D & 3D)
– Excitations can be assigned from the menu item Maxwell 2D/3D  Excitations  Assign
 Current
• Used in most magnetostatic analysis cases,
• Assigned to 2D sheets (conductor sections) defining total current in Amp-turns through the
conductors
• The conducting path can be either a closed loop or start&stop on simulation domain outer boundary
• Conductor defined as Solid or Stranded

Start&stop Closed loop

34 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Excitations (energy sources)

• Excitations (2D and 3D)

 Current Density
• In practical applications this kind of source is seldom
used
• In 3D, this definition should be accompanied with
Current Density Terminal definition
• Defined using X,Y and Z components of selected CS

 Current Density Terminal (3D only)

• Required to be defined if Current Density is set
• Can be assigned for either closed loop or start&stop
conducting paths

35 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Excitations (energy sources)
• Excitation (3D)

 Voltage  Voltage Drop

• Used in conjunction with material conductivity • Similar to the voltage definition
to define current through a solid conductor • Can only be assigned to conductor
• Can only be assigned to faces or sheets lying on sections
simulation domain boundaries

36 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Excitations (energy sources)

• Further Energy Sources (2D and/or 3D)

 Permanent Magnets (2D and 3D)
• Defining objects as permanent magnets (through material properties) represents setting an energy
source
 Tangential H-Field (3D)
• Defining the boundary Tangential H-Field is often used to create an external H-field surrounding all
the devices under investigation and it is considered by the solver as an energy source
 Vector Potential Gradients (2D)
• Defining Vector Potential gradients on 2D boundaries is used to create external magnetic field
surrounding all the devices under investigation and it is considered by the solver as an energy source

37 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Parameters
• Parameters
– Three parameters can be assigned for magnetostatic solver: Force, Torque, Matrix
– Parameters can be added through menu item Maxwell 3D/2D  Parameters  Assign

 Force:  Torque:
• Calculates force acting on selected objects • Calculates torque on selected objects
• Can be Virtual or Lorentz • Can be Virtual or Lorentz
• Lorentz can not be used for magnetic • The torque acting axis and direction must be
materials set

38 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Parameters
 Matrix:
• Calculates Inductance matrix
• It is often useful to model the winding turns with an equivalent cross section, in order to avoid
mesh issues and to reduce simulation time
• In that case Matrix allows postprocessing where it is possible to insert the number of turns and
define eventual groups and branches
• When grouping, the excitations are implicitly series connected each other

Individual turns Equivalent cross

modeling section

39 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Inductance Matrix Calculation
• Two types of inductance calculation:
 Apparent Inductance
• The slope of a line from the origin to the operating point.
Apparent inductance gives the total flux linkage as a
function of current.
 Incremental (differential) Inductance Flux linkage vs. current
• The slope of the tangent to the curve at the operating point. different inductances
Incremental inductance is the usual textbook definition.

𝜆 𝑑𝜆
𝑳𝒂𝒑𝒑 = 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓 =
𝐼 𝑑𝐼

• Inductance calculation method can be selected through menu item

Maxwell 3D/2D  Design Settings Matrix Computation

40 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Analysis Setup
• Solution Setup
– The solution setup defines the parameters used for solving the simulation
– A Solution Setup can be added from the menu Maxwell 3D/2D  Analysis Setup  Add Solution Setup
 General Tab
• Name: Setup name. Multiple setups can be present in the same
design
• Maximum Number of Passes: limit to number of adaptive passes
• Percent Error: Error goal for both Error Energy and Delta Energy.
• Solve Fields Only: Ignores any defined parameters if checked.
• Solve Matrix: option to calculate the matrix after the last solved
pass or only if the solution converges.
 Convergence Tab
• Refinement Per Pass: number of tetrahedral elements added at
each pass as a percentage increment
• Minimum Number of Passes: minimum number of adaptive
passes before solution stops
• Minimum Converged Passes: minimum number of converged
adaptive passes before solution stops
41 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016
 Analysis Setup
• Solution Setup
 Solver Tab
• Nonlinear Residual: error in finding operating points along B-H
curve
• Enable Iterative Solver: Enables ICCG solvers (Direct is the default).
• Permeability Option: Allows operating points either to be
calculated from Nonlinear B-H curve or to use frozen permeabilities
From Link (linked model must have the exact same geometry)
• Demagnetization Option: Allows calculation of permanent magnets
demagnetization
• Import Mesh: Allows the initial mesh to be imported from another
solution – the linked solution must have the exact same geometry
as the current simulation

42 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Variables and Parametric analysis
• Variables
 All the geometry dimensions, sources and in general most of the settings can be parametrized
through suitable variables
 Variables can be either Local (Design) or Global (Project)
 Local variables are valid only inside the Design where they have been defined
 Global variables begin always with the $ symbol and are shared through all Designs belonging to
the same Project
• Parametric analysis
 The Optimetrics module offers the possibility to sweep variables values and run a set of (even
numerous) different simulations
 Parametric analysis is often used for model performances optimization or to study the influence of
different parameters on devices performances.
 Parametric analysis ca be added through RMB on Optimetrics  Add  Parametric

43 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Postprocessing – Part 1
• Results Reports
 Maxwell calculates the fields distribution and then other
quantities, like, e.g. forces, torques, inductances, etc.
 Those quantities can be accessed from Project manager
through a RMB on Results  Create Fields Report  (select
one report from the list)
 Results are displayed on a XY graph where the quantities on
the two axis can be selected at own convenience
• Fields Overlays
 Selecting objects which are part of the model, it is possible to
display the calculated field distribution, as well as the mesh
 Fields can be displayed using RMB on selected objects
Fields (select one field from the list)

44 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Postprocessing – Part 1

• Results Reports
examples

• Fields Overlays
examples

45 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Summary

What have we learned in this session?

• Maxwell settings and GUI
• Geometry manipulation, modification and import
• Material Properties
• Boundary Conditions
• Excitations
• Adaptive meshing
• Magnetostatic solver
• Parametric analysis
• Basic of postprocessing

46 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 17.0 Release

APPENDIX: Geometries in Maxwell

Introduction to ANSYS Maxwell

47 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Maxwell Geometry
• Maxwell Geometry
– ANSYS Maxwell uses primitives-based modeling technique where basic structure is created using
Geometry Primitives and then Geometry operations are performed to achieve final object
– The underlying solid modeling technology used by Maxwell products is provided by ACIS
geometric modeler. ACIS version 25.0 is used in Maxwell R17.0
– Geometry can also be created in ANSYS Design Modeler and can be used in Maxwell through
ANSYS Workbench interface

48 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Geometry Terminology
• Geometry Terminology
 Point: Independent point entity
 Vertex: Point entity that is a part of an Edge or Line object
 Line Object: Independent line entity
 Edge: Line entity which is part of either a sheet or a Face
 Sheet Objects: Independent surface entity
 Face: Surface entity that is part of a Sheet or a Solid
 Solid Objects: Entities that have a definite volume
 Coordinate Systems: Default “Global”
 Planes: Default Global XY, YZ and XZ planes
Point
Line Sheet
Vertex Edge
Plane
Solid
Coordinate
Face System

49 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Geometry UI operations
• Setting Visibility of the Object
– Visibility of the object in 3D Modeler window can be set from menu item View  Visibility or the
toolbar

• Geometry Measurement
– Measurement command can be launched from the menu item Modeler  Measure
Measures position of cursor with reference to Current CS or last selected position
Measures length of an edge
Measures Area of a face
Measures Volume and Surface Area of an Object

50 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Geometry Creation
• Geometry Creation from Primitives
– Geometrical entities can be created using primitives from the menu bar Draw
Inputs
Start and End Points
Start, intermediate and end points
Line Objects Coordinates of Three points of arc or Center and two end points
X, Y Z Coordinates as a function of the variable “_t”
Coordinates of two diagonal points
Coordinates of center and major, minor radius
Sheet Objects Coordinates of center and Radius
Coordinates of center, Radius and Number of sides
X, Y Z coordinates as a function of the variable “_u” and “_v”
Coordinates of two diagonal points of base and height
Coordinates of center of base and radius
Coordinates of center of base, radius and number of segments
Coordinates of center of Base, lower and higher radius and height
Solid Objects
Coordinates of center and radius
Coordinates of Center, Inner and Outer radius
Sheet defining cross section, helix vector, pitch and turns
Sheet defining cross section, spiral vector, radius change and turns

51 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Geometry Creation
• User Defined Primitives
– User defined primitives enable users to create and parameterize complex geometrical objects
using inbuilt templates in Maxwell
– A User Defined Primitives can be added from the menu item Draw  User Defined Primitive

Note: Please refer Maxwell Help for more information on the User Defined Primitives
52 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016
 Geometry Operations
• Creating Sheets from Lines
– Edge objects which form a closed loop can be used to create sheet object by selecting menu item
Modeler  Surface  Cover Lines
– This operations can be set as default execution on creation of closed polylines by setting the
option under Tools  Modeler Options  Automatically Cover Closed Polylines
• Creating Solids from Sheets
– In the same way as sheets, Solids can also be formed from sheets using various operations under
Modeler  Surface

53 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Geometry Operations
• Sweep Objects:
– Sweep command can be accessed from menu item Draw  Sweep
• Sweep Around Axis
 Inputs: Profile Sheet or Line body,
X,Y or Z axis of active CS, Angle of
Sweep and Draft details if needed

• Sweep Along Vector

 Inputs: Profile Sheet or Line body,
Sweep vector and Draft details if
needed

• Sweep Along Path

 Inputs: Profile Sheet or Line Body,
Path Line Body, Twist and Draft
details if needed

54 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Geometry Manipulation
• Arrange Geometry
– Arrange Geometry can be initiated from menu item Edit  Arrange
• Move • Rotate
 Translates geometry  Rotates the
along the translation geometry
vector around
selected axis of
Work CS

• Mirror • Offset
 Mirrors geometry about a plane defined  Scales the geometry
using Plane Normal about its Centroid.
Applicable only for
Solids.

55 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Geometry Manipulation
• Duplicate Geometry
– Duplicate Geometry can be initiated from menu item Edit  Duplicate

• Along Line • Around Axis • Mirror

 Duplicates geometry along  Duplicates geometry around  Duplicates geometry about
specified vector selected axis of Work CS a plane using Plane Normal

• Scale
 Scales the geometry about Origin of Work CS

56 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Boolean Operations
• Booleans
– Boolean operations can be launched from menu item Modeler  Boolean
• Unite • Intersect
 Unites all selected bodies  Gives Intersection of Selected
into single Body Bodies

• Subtract
 Subtracts Tool
Bodies from
Blank Bodies
Without Clone Tool With Clone Tool
Objects Objects
57 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016
 Boolean Operations
• Split
– Splits the Selected Geometry using XY, YZ or XZ plane of Active CS
Keep fragments

Positive Side Negative Side Both

Split Objects

Split entire selection Split objects crossing

split plane
58 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016
 Geometry Import
• Geometry Import in Maxwell
– Users can import models in Maxwell using neutral formats such as STEP(*.step, *.stp), IGES(*.iges,
*.igs), Parasolid (*.x_t, *.x_b). After importing into Maxwell, the files are translated into native
ACIS kernel
– Maxwell can also import CAD file formats such as AutoCAD(*.dwg, *.dxf), CATIA(*.model,
*.CATPart, *.CATProduct), Creo (*.prt*, *.asm), Unigraphics(*.prt).

59 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Workshop 1.1 – Magnetostatic 2D analysis

60 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016

 Workshop 1.2 – Magnetostatic 3D analysis

Magnetic Field Generated by Coil

Coil

Current

Permanent Magnet

61 © 2016 ANSYS, Inc. June 6, 2016