Tool Integration in Manatee
Integrate Manatee into existing CAE workflows
Manatee Integration With CAE Tools
Manatee software integrates smoothly into CAE workflows, supporting the import of currents, airgap flux, and modal bases from third-party tools to streamline e-NVH simulations. This integration allows electrical and mechanical engineers to work with existing data, avoiding redundant calculations and enhancing simulation accuracy. The software also supports importing external noise sources and exporting magnetic forces and nodal vibrations, facilitating comprehensive NVH analyses. Advanced output tracking and batch mode capabilities enable customized optimization and seamless integration with other applications, making Manatee a versatile tool for multiphysics design optimization of electric machines and drives.
Smooth Integration Into CAE Workflows
- Current Import
- Airgap Flux Import
- Modal Basis Import
- External Noise Import
Current Import
When supply currents have already been computed on third-party electromagnetic software or measured, this feature of Manatee software allows to calculate airgap flux density from the sole import of phase current signal along one electrical period. Variable speed current import, skewing and eccentricity are supported. Currents can be imported at very few operating points, flux density and magnetic forces are then automatically extrapolated or interpolated at variable speed using the MLUT algorithm
This import feature can be used by electrical engineers who want to perform simulations with non-sinusoidal currents. The impact of non-conventional control or current profiling on noise and vibration can be evaluated.
Airgap Flux Import
When electromagnetic calculations have already been performed in third-party electromagnetic software, this feature of Manatee software allows Maxwell force calculations from the sole import of airgap flux density distribution along time and angular position in the airgap. A Magnetic Look-up Table is automatically built, supporting variable speed flux import as well as skewing. Eccentricity can be applied even when importing the flux from a machine without eccentricity when using Manatee uneven airgap perturbation model. Flux density can be imported at very few operating points. Magnetic forces are then automatically extrapolated or interpolated at variable speed using the MLUT algorithm.
Electrical engineers can use this import feature to avoid running electromagnetic calculations again from third-party software. This import feature can also be used in the detailed design phase to include some strong magnetic-to-electrical circuit coupling effects, which are not included in Manatee electromagnetic calculations.
Modal Basis Import
Noise and vibration induced by electric motor operation can be calculated with Manatee software through the modal basis import feature of a third-party 3D FEA mechanical model. Contrary to analytic NVH models, a 3D FEA mechanical model allows for an accurate model of the effect of electric machine mechanical integration (for example, rotor housing coupling mode, rotor bending modes, and housing boundary conditions). It is especially useful when introducing tolerances and faults during e-NVH calculations.
Contrary to the early design phase during which electrical engineers do not know the mechanical integration of their electrical machine, the first version of the mechanical integration is known in the detailed design phase as a CAD model of the rotor, stator, housing and driveline assembly. At this development stage, the type of lamination interference fit, e-motor cooling and driveline architectures are known. A 3D FEA mechanical model can, therefore, be defined by a mechanical engineer, and electrical machine mechanical properties can be tuned by fitting the model with an Experimental Modal Analysis.
Once the 3D FEA mechanical model is built, it can be represented by its modal basis. The format of the modal basis may depend on the third-party mechanical software used. The modal basis assumes a linear behavior of the mechanical assembly. If necessary, the mechanical assembly is linearized around a particular operating point (e.g., under a certain load, assuming a certain eccentricity level).
Importing a 3D FEA modal basis in Manatee can be carried out with up to 6 billion degrees of freedom. It can contain complex coupling elements for modeling bearings and gears.
External Noise Import
External noise sources (for instance, gear noise or aerodynamic noise, which are not produced by electromagnetic forces) can be imported inside Manatee using an Excel sheet format to obtain a full picture of the system's acoustic signature. The resulting overall noise and order tracking analysis can be explored using Manatee postprocessing tools.
External noise sources (for instance, gear noise or aerodynamic noise, which are not produced by electromagnetic forces) can be imported inside Manatee using an Excel sheet format to obtain a full picture of the system's acoustic signature. The resulting overall noise and order tracking analysis can be explored using Manatee postprocessing tools.
- Force Export
- Nodal Vibration Export
- Advanced Output Tracking
- Batch Mode
Force Export
Magnetic forces computed by Manatee e-NVH software can be exported in the frequency domain in .json format. Export can be done either in the time or frequency domain. A list of desired operating points can be selected, and the time discretization or maximum frequency can be tuned to get a reasonable output file size.
The export of Manatee forces allows electrical engineers to use the user-friendly interface to compute the electromagnetic excitations and then send the output data to the NVH engineers to pursue NVH studies within third-party software. For example, magnetic forces could be exported to calculate structure-borne noise at the vehicle level in Abaqus or to iterate on the acoustic packaging in Wave6.
Nodal Vibration Export
Manatee computes nodal vibrations in the x, y, and z directions using a predefined set of nodes from a 3D FEA mechanical model. This requires importing the model with "Sensor nodes for vibration calculation" use. After simulation, nodal displacement, velocity, and acceleration can be exported as frequency functions. The vibration data for specific mechanical orders or operating points can be saved in .unv or .csv formats.
Exporting nodal vibrations enables NVH engineers to compare vibrations at specific structural points with NVH requirements or test data. This data can also be used in third-party acoustic software, like SIMULIA Wave6, to refine acoustic calculations and determine Sound Pressure Levels at particular locations.
Advanced Output Tracking
Manatee e-NVH software offers the possibility to track user-defined physical simulation output. Standard outputs, such as the overall sound power level, vibration level or average torque, are automatically tracked. The user can also add trackers on very specific data, such as a given force harmonic at a selected Operating Point, the maximum nodal vibration level in the x-direction, etc. These specific trackers can be defined for any kind of simulation (fixed speed, variable speed or torque-speed), and can be used as objectives or constraints in an optimization problem. All tracked outputs can be exported in a CSV file at the end of the simulation.
The advanced output tracking is designed to help Electrical and NVH Engineers meet e-NVH requirements and improve the multiphysics performances of a given design, especially in terms of noise, vibrations and electromagnetics. Flexibility in output definition allows adapting NVH requirements to every electrical machine integrator.
Batch Mode
Manatee software can be run using batch commands. Predefined multiphysics workflows can then be called from third-party scripts (e.g., optimization loops). That makes Manatee highly interoperable software that can be seamlessly coupled with another application.
These batch commands allow to edit/run a simulation predefined in the Graphical User Interface.
This feature allows CAE engineers to appropriately include Manatee software inside a customized virtual prototyping toolchain for the multiphysic design optimization of electrical systems.
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