The finite element method (FEM) has shown its reliability when it deals with electromagnetic design. In this work, it is shown that the FEM can also be effective as a control design tool for nonlinear structures like active magnetic bearings. This work suggests the permanent introduction of the FEM in a regular electrical engineering programme.
BatheK. J., Finite Element Procedures (Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1996).
2.
BrauerJ. R., ‘Finite element analysis of magnetic fields’, in EngelmannR. H. and MiddendorfW. H. (Eds), Handbook of Electric Motors (Marcel Dekker, New York, 1995), pp. 20–25.
3.
BastosJ. P. and SadowskiN., Eletromagnetic Modeling by Finite Elements Method (Marcel Dekker, New York, 2003).
4.
KenjoT., Electric Motors and their Controls (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1991).
5.
LeonhardW., Control of Electrical Drives (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2001).
6.
MoonF. C., Superconducting Levitation: Applications to Bearings and Magnetic Transportation (John Wiley, New York, 1994).
7.
SchweitzerG.BleulerH. and TraxlerA., Active Magnetic Bearings (VdfHochschulverlag AG an der ETH Zürich, Switzerland, 1994).
8.
CarvalhoA. S.MartinsC. A. O. and GonçalvesC. C., ‘Mancais Magnéticos — Projeto de Bancada Experimental de Rotores Suportados por Mancais Magnéticos’, Mechanical Engineering Graduation Monograph, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil (1997).
9.
SantosP. C. V., ‘Implementation of analog and digital controllers applied to a magnetic bearing prototype’, Electrical Engineering Masters Thesis, Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2000).
10.
NoronhaR. F.LimaL. T. G.Jr.LeiteT. M.GomesG. M. P. and SantosP. C. V., ‘Dynamic behavior of a magnetically borne rotor’, in NicolskyR. and StephanR. M. (Eds), Proc. 16th Int. Conf. on Magnetically Levitated Systems and Linear Drives — MAGLEV, 7–10 June, 2000, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, (LASUP/DEE/EE/UFRJ — Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 2000), pp. 456–461.
11.
CarvalhoA. S., ‘Modelagem de rotores sustentados por mancais magnéticos pelo método dos elementos finitos,’ Mechanical Engineering Masters Thesis, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil (2000).
12.
AcesitaS. A., Brazilian silicon steel manufacturer, available at www.acesita.com.br (2003).
13.
GRUCAD, Brazilian research group at Federal University of Santa Catarina, developers of simulation program EFCAD, available at www.grucad.ufsc.br (2004).
