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Article
Publication date: 15 November 2011

Min Li and David A. Lowther

Robust design is very important for manufacturers to ensure the quality of the finished product. Therefore, a robustness measure is needed for the topological design of…

317

Abstract

Purpose

Robust design is very important for manufacturers to ensure the quality of the finished product. Therefore, a robustness measure is needed for the topological design of electromagnetic problems which may be sensitive to parameter variations. The purpose of this paper is to propose a robust objective function for topological design problems.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a robust objective function for topology optimization is defined on an uncertainty set using the worst case analysis. The robustness of a topological design is defined as the worst response due to the variations of the location of the topology change. The approach is based on the definition of a topological gradient.

Findings

The robust topology optimization (RTO) was applied to eddy current crack reconstruction problems. The numerical applications showed that this method can provide more reliable results for the reconstruction in the presence of significant noise in the measured signal.

Research limitations/implications

The RTO may be applied to some more complicated design problems; however large computational costs may result.

Originality/value

This paper has defined a robustness metric for topology design and a robust design model is proposed for topology optimization problems.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

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Article
Publication date: 9 September 2013

Steven Bielby and David A. Lowther

The conventional starting point for the design of an electrical machine (or any low-frequency electromagnetic device) is known as “sizing”. In this process, a simple magnetic…

219

Abstract

Purpose

The conventional starting point for the design of an electrical machine (or any low-frequency electromagnetic device) is known as “sizing”. In this process, a simple magnetic circuit is used to estimate the main geometric parameters. This does not work for many devices, particularly where eddy currents and non-linearity dominate. The purpose of this paper is to investigate an approach using a neural network trained on a large database of existing designs as a general sizing system.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is based on a combination of a radial basis function neural network and a database of stored performances of electrical machines. The network is trained based on a set of typical performance requirements for a machines design problem. The resulting design is analyzed using finite elements to determine if the design performance is acceptable.

Findings

The number of neurons in the network was varied to determine the approximation and generalization capabilities. The finite element analysis showed that the network produced initial design parameters which resulted in an appropriate performance.

Research limitations/implications

The research has looked at only one class of machine. Further work is needed on a range of machines to determine how effective the approach can be.

Practical implications

The approach can provide a good initial design and thus can reduce overall design time significantly.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a novel, fast and effective generalized approach to sizing low frequency electromagnetic devices.

Details

COMPEL: The International Journal for Computation and Mathematics in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, vol. 32 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

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Article
Publication date: 1 September 2003

David A. Lowther

This paper discusses the possibility of automating the design of electromagnetic devices. Several paradigms currently exist to accelerate the design process, search the design…

322

Abstract

This paper discusses the possibility of automating the design of electromagnetic devices. Several paradigms currently exist to accelerate the design process, search the design space and examine the effects of tolerances on various parameters. Amongst these are semantic networks, response surfaces, interval mathematics and sensitivity analysis. This paper explores all of these and also suggests what is needed in the future in order to create a true computer based design system.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, vol. 22 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

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Article
Publication date: 19 June 2007

Weijie Wan and David A. Lowther

To present a general synthesis method in the design of variable comb drive MEMS capacitors which can provide specified capacitance versus position profiles while give large tuning…

726

Abstract

Purpose

To present a general synthesis method in the design of variable comb drive MEMS capacitors which can provide specified capacitance versus position profiles while give large tuning range.

Design/methodology/approach

By carefully choosing design parameters and constraint conditions, the design process is implemented as the solution of a constraint optimization problem. An electric field analysis software based on the finite element method and an optimization software based on the evolutionary stochastic search are chosen to work together to implement the system.

Findings

The results verify that the shape of a variable MEMS capacitor has a great influence on the capacitance versus distance profile and demonstrates that a specific geometry of the MEMS capacitor can be found to match a desired capacitance‐distance profile.

Research limitations/implications

The analytical expression for the capacitance formed between the fixed and the movable fingers is somewhat inaccurate. The results are not compared to measurement because no device has been fabricated.

Practical implications

A very successful numerical simulation example and guidance for MEMS designers to develop MEMS devices with variable electrode shapes.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a systematic way for the design of MEMS tunable capacitors with variable shape. The approach can be used to design MEMS devices with variable electrode shapes to satisfy specific requirements.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, vol. 26 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

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Article
Publication date: 10 July 2009

Subhasis Ray and David Lowther

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel multi‐objective optimization algorithm which takes into account the uncertainty in design parameters by using a reduced resolution…

229

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel multi‐objective optimization algorithm which takes into account the uncertainty in design parameters by using a reduced resolution for their representation, thus implementing a simple form of robustness. Additionally, the number of function evaluations should be minimized.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed approach is based on an elitist evolutionary algorithm coupled with a reduction in the number of significant figures used to represent design parameters. In effect, this becomes a filter in the optimization process and allows the system to avoid extremely sharp optima within the search space. By reducing the resolution of the search and maintaining a full archive of previous solutions, the number of evaluations of the objective functions, each of which may require an expensive numerical solution, is reduced.

Findings

The algorithm was tested both on an algebraic test function and on two TEAM Workshop Problems (22 and 25). The results demonstrated that it is stable; can emerge from deceptive fronts; and find optimal solutions which match those previously published at a relatively low‐computational cost.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper lies in the concept of using a low‐resolution representation of the design parameters. This results in a finite size search space and increases the speed of the algorithm while avoiding non‐manufacturable solutions.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, vol. 28 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

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Article
Publication date: 9 September 2013

Jaime A. Ramirez, William P.D. Figueiredo, Joao Francisco C. Vale, Isabela D. Metzker, Rafael G. Santos, Matheus S. Mattos, Elizabeth R.S. Camargos and David A. Lowther

– This paper aims to investigate the electroporation phenomenon in a single cell exposed to ultra short (μs) and high voltage (kV) electric pulses.

180

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the electroporation phenomenon in a single cell exposed to ultra short (μs) and high voltage (kV) electric pulses.

Design/methodology/approach

The problem is addressed by two complementary approaches. First, numerical simulations based on an asymptotic approximation derived from the Smoluchowski theory are used to calculate the pore generation, growth and size evolution at the membrane of a spherical cell model, immersed in a suspension medium and consisting of cytoplasm and membrane. The numerical calculations are solved using the finite difference method. Second, an in vitro experiment with LLC-MK2 cells is carried out in which electroporation was monitored with molecules of propidium iodide. This part also comprehended the design and manufacturing of a portable electric pulse generator capable of providing rectangular pulses with amplitude of 1,000 V and duration in the range of 1-μs to 100-μs. The pulse generator is composed of three modules: a high voltage DC source, a control module, and an energy storage and high voltage switching.

Findings

The numerical simulations considered a 5-μm radius cell submitted to a 500 kV/m rectangular electric pulse for 1-μs. The results indicate the formation of around 3,500 pores at the cell membrane, most of them, around 950, located at the poles of the cell aligned to the applied electric pulse, with radii sizes varying from 0.5-nm to 13-nm. The in vitro experiment considered exposition of LLC-MK2 cells to pulses of 200 V, 500 V, and 700 V, and 1-μs. Images from fluorescence microscopy exhibit the LLC-MK2 cells with intense red, a strong evidence of the electroporation.

Originality/value

The work presents a thorough study of the electroporation phenomenon combining two complementary approaches, a rigorous numerical simulation and a detailed in vitro experiment.

Details

COMPEL: The International Journal for Computation and Mathematics in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, vol. 32 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

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Article
Publication date: 19 June 2007

Elizabeth F. Wanner, Ricardo H.C. Takahashi, Frederico G. Guimarães, Jaime A. Ramírez and David A. Lowther

The paper aims to present a new methodology for hybrid genetic algorithms (GA) in the solution of electromagnetic optimization problems.

328

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to present a new methodology for hybrid genetic algorithms (GA) in the solution of electromagnetic optimization problems.

Design/methodology/approach

This methodology can be seen as a local search operator which uses local quadratic approximations for each objective and constraint function in the problem. In the local search phase, these approximations define an associated local search problem that is efficiently solved using a formulation based on linear matrix inequalities.

Findings

The paper illustrates the proposed methodology comparing the performance of the hybrid GA against the basic GA in two analytical problems and in the well‐known TEAM benchmark Problem 22. For the analytical problems, 30 independent runs for each algorithm were considered whereas for Problem 22, ten independent runs for each algorithm were taken.

Research limitations/implications

For the analytical problems, the hybrid GA enhanced both the convergence speed, in terms of the number of function evaluations, and the accuracy of the final result. For Problem 22, the hybrid GA was able to reach a better solution, with a better value of the standard deviation with less CPU time.

Practical implications

The paper could be useful both for device designers and researchers involved optimization in computational electromagnetics.

Originality/value

The hybrid GA proposed enhanced the convergence speed, in terms of the number of function evaluations, representing a faster and robust algorithm for practical optimization problems.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, vol. 26 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 7 September 2015

Oszkár Bíró, David A. Lowther and Piergiorgio Alotto

168

Abstract

Details

COMPEL: The International Journal for Computation and Mathematics in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, vol. 34 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

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Article
Publication date: 15 November 2011

Lucas S. Batista, Felipe Campelo, Frederico G. Guimarães and Jaime A. Ramírez

The purpose of this paper is to present a graph representation of the design space that is suitable for the ant colony optimization (ACO) method in topology optimization (TO…

304

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a graph representation of the design space that is suitable for the ant colony optimization (ACO) method in topology optimization (TO) problems.

Design/methodology/approach

The ACO is employed to obtain optimal routes in an equivalent graph representation of the discretized design space, with each route corresponding to a given distribution of material.

Findings

The problem associated with the maximization of the torque of a c‐core magnetic actuator is investigated, in which part of the yoke is discretized into a 16×8 grid and can assume three different materials: air, pure iron and a magnetic material.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the c‐core magnetic actuator problem, which are in agreement with literature available, show the adequacy of the proposed approach to TO of electromagnetic devices.

Practical implications

The graph representation of the design space permits the solution of topological design problems with an arbitrary number of materials.

Originality/value

The results illustrate the potential of the methodology in dealing with multi‐domain TO problems, and the possibility to extend the application to 3D problems.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 19 June 2007

P. Alotto, A. De Cian, G. Molinari and M. Rossi

To show a possible implementation of surface impedance boundary conditions (SIBCs) in a time domain formulation based on the cell method (CM).

292

Abstract

Purpose

To show a possible implementation of surface impedance boundary conditions (SIBCs) in a time domain formulation based on the cell method (CM).

Design/methodology/approach

The implementation is based on vector fitting (VF), a technique which allows a time domain representation of a rational approximation of the surface impedance to be found.

Findings

It is shown that very little computational effort is needed to find a very good VF approximation of simple SIBCs and that such approximation is easily fitted into existing CM codes.

Research limitations/implications

The extension to higher order SIBCs has not been taken into account.

Practical implications

The proposed approach avoids the use of convolution integrals, is accurate and easy to implement.

Originality/value

This paper introduces the use of VF for the approximate time domain representation of SIBCs.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, vol. 26 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

Keywords

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