A New Method for Coupling Transient Network Models and Stationary Finite-Element Models

In many cases, the accuracy of transient multi-domain network models can be improved by coupling to distributed models, e.g. finite-element (FE) models, which compute for specific element parameters, flow or potential variables of the network model. Two opposing methods are known. The first is direct simulator coupling. It requires solving of the distributed model in each iteration step of the network model simulation. The second is the uncoupled calculation of characteristic maps from stationary distributed models which are then used in the transient model in form of look-up tables. Since the course of the base parameters of the characteristic maps is unknown before the transient simulation runs the stationary distributed model has to be solved for all grid points of the spanned parameter space. Both methods lead to an inefficient high number of necessary calculations of the distributed model which usually determines the computing costs. We present a new approach which significantly reduces the number of necessary computations. The main idea is combining both methods and successively computing grid points of the characteristic maps depending on the current need while solving the transient model. This is demonstrated for the example of an electromagnetic actuator. In the presented example, the number of FE model calculations was reduced to a tenth.