Product information
Electromagnetic, Electric, and Thermal Analysis
Capitalizing on thirty-five years of innovation in the global context of design optimization and time-to-market reduction, Flux finite element software provides solutions to low-frequency electromagnetic and thermal simulation problems. Flux includes an open and user-friendly interface that is easily coupled with other Altair software to address multiphysics problems for a variety of systems in 2D, 3D and Skew modeling situations.
1. Benefits
1.1. Accuracy
Flux applies advanced numerical methods and well-adapted modeling techniques to produce the most accurate and reliable results in the shortest amount of time.
Flux developers are constantly improving the embedded solvers to increase simulation speed and enable the evaluation of thousands of design configurations.
1.2. Flexibility
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The software behavior is fully customizable to user preferences.
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Embedded scripting tools and macroauthoring enable the capture and automation of simulation processes. Difficult workflows can be fully saved and repeated.
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Flux can be coupled with any software, enabling high productivity and access to non-specialists
1.3. Parametric Simulation
Fundamental to working with Flux is defining geometric dimensions or physical characteristics with parameters. Linking several parameters together through equations is very easy. The influence of any parameter in a simulation can be intuitively explored and visualized through multidimensional curves and animations of color shades or arrows.
1.4. Interoperability
Flux can be coupled with other 3D analysis software to create the most realistic multiphysics representations of phenomena. Considering a device as a component of a larger system or designing its control strategy is also possible by linking Altair Flux to system level simulation tools. Different levels of interaction are possible, ranging from reduced model extraction to full co-simulation.
2. Capabilities
2.1. Wide Field of Use
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Magnetic, electric, and thermal fields
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Magnetic/dielectric/thermal coupling
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Mechanical coupling
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Multiphysics coupling
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Static, harmonic, and transient analysis
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Parameterized analysis
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External circuit connection
2.2 Powerful Geometric Description
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Easy sketcher of 2D geometry, including parametric capabilities
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Embedded 3D modeler with fully parametrized modeling constructs
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Advanced CAD import & export functions
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Defeaturing and simplification capabilities
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Dedicated environment for electric rotating machines designed in 2D and 3D
2.3. Easy and Flexible Mesh Generator
The Altair Flux mesh generator provides different mesh types and meshing technologies that can be mixed in both 2D and 3D situations:
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Smart automatic mesh generation based on geometry & physics
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Fine manual control of mesh size and distribution
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Mapped mesh and linked mesh
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Auto-adaptive mesh refinement during solving in 2D & 3D
Altair Flux is also able to import meshes directly from Altair HyperMesh™ and Altair SimLab™ to deal with complex 3D CAD geometries.
2.4. Advanced Modeling Techniques for Accurate and Fast Results
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Infinite box for open boundary problems
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Non-meshed coils
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Thin regions represented by surface models
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Fast evaluation of geometry skewing effect
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Non-linear anisotropic material behavior
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Hysteresis modeling
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Skin and proximity losses in windings
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Partial Element Equivalent Circuit method for power conductors
2.5. Post-Processing
Altair Flux gives access to various quantities including:
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Electric and magnetic fields temperature
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Magnetic flux, inductances, energy
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Iron losses and Joule losses
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Position, velocity, force, torque, speed
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Skin effect visualization
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Equivalent RLC circuit extraction and export
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User-defined quantities
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Maps, isovalues, and vector plots
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Animations
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2D and 3D curves
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Spectral analysis
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Cutting planes
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Look up tables for system simulation
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Export capabilities (Excel, text, and more)
2.6. Robust Solving
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Fully parametric solver enables geometrical or physical parameter sweeps
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Several iterative and direct linear solvers with multiprocessing
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Non-linear solvers
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Distributed parametric studies across several cores or machines
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Auto-adaptive mesh and time-step
3. Multiphysics
Flux provides fully cabled solutions to set up co-simulations and exports with specialized tools focusing primarily on magnetothermal and magneto-vibro-acoustics analysis.
3.1. Magneto Thermal Analysis
Coupling Flux with CFD simulation tools like Altair AcuSolve™, CD-Adapco STARCCM+ or ANSYS Fluent makes results even more powerful by taking into account fluid dynamics, and enhancing the accuracy of the thermal analysis. Efficient and accurate design is possible with Flux thanks to all the available thermal couplings!
3.2. Coupling with Mechanical Stress Evaluation and Vibration Analysis
Electromagnetic forces are the source of mechanical stress or noise in electromagnetic structures.
Flux is able to accurately compute these forces and export them to stress or vibration analysis tools such as Altair OptiStruct™,LMS Virtual.Lab, MSC Nastran or ANSYS Mechanical
4. Advanced System Integration
Advanced System Integration Considering the component in its mechatronic environment is key to optimizing its performance and look into efficient control strategies. Through equivalent circuit extraction, table export or co-simulation, it is possible to couple Flux with Altair’s system simulator Altair Activate®, using several levels of fidelity, depending on the design needs. The couplings with other tools like MatLab Simulink and LMS Imagine. Lab Amesim are also available.
5. Simulation Process Automation
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Define macros and interfaces
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Simplify processes from geometry generation to post-processing results via command language derived from Java and Python object-oriented languages
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Include Flux in a wider calculation process in Altair Compose
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Use the API to access Flux from any software
6. Optimization
Boost your Flux capabilities with Altair HyperStudy™, a powerful and reliable optimizer that does not require you to be an expert in optimization methods. Well-adapted to drive FEM models, HyperStudy goes beyond simple parametric studies, which allows for significant gains in your designs.
7. High Performance Computing (HPC) Solutions
High Performance Computing (HPC) Solutions Affordability of computers with multiple processors or clusters bring new possibilities to simulate many design configurations concurrently. The distribution of parametric calculations is directly available in Altair Flux for all applications. Flux is connected to Altair PBS Works™, Altair’s leading solution for computing workload management, which will let you take advantage of the full power of remote Altair HPC clusters.
