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V ol t a g e I nduc e d i n a C oi l by a
Mov i ng Magne t
Introduction
A magnet moving axially through the center of a coil will induce a voltage across the
coil terminals. A practical application of this phenomenon is in shaker flashlights,
where the flashlight is vigorously shaken back and forth, thereby causing a magnet to
move through a multi-turn coil, which provides charge to the battery. This example
models the motion of a magnet through a coil and computes the induced voltages. The
displacement of the magnet is significant, so the model uses a moving and sliding
mesh.
Oscillating magnet

Multi-turn coil
Figure 1: Drawing showing a sinusoidally oscillating magnet and a multi-turn coil.
Model Definition
Figure 1 illustrates the system setup, in which a magnet of strength 1.2 T is displaced
sinusoidally at 4 Hz with a peak displacement of 30 mm inside of an 800 turn coil.
This results in a 2D axisymmetric problem, where the modeling space is a rectangular
region in the rz-plane bounded by the Magnetic Insulation boundary condition,
which represents a metallic enclosure.
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Both the magnet and the multi-turn coil domains are represented by rectangles. The
magnet and coil corners are not rounded off, which leads to a simpler mesh and smaller
problem size. Although the sharp corners do introduce local singularities into the
magnetic fields, it is not a concern for this type of model, whose single objective is to
determine the induced voltage across the coil. This voltage is computed by taking the
integral of the fields over the domains, which is quite insensitive to singularities in the
fields. The corners of these domains only need to be rounded if forces and field
strengths around the corners are of interest.
To define the displacement of the magnet and the surrounding air domains, the model
uses the moving mesh functionality. Because neither the coil nor the air domain
surrounding it needs to deform, it is sufficient to define the Moving Mesh physics in
the magnet and the air domains above and below it.
When the domain movement is significant, it is warranted to use the sliding mesh
functionality, introducing additional steps into the model setup. When drawing the
geometry, the Form Assembly functionality must be used to finalize the geometry.
This feature assumes that all objects are disjoint, and automatically creates an Identity
Pair at the touching boundaries between objects. The Identity Pair is used to define a
Pair Continuity boundary condition in the Magnetic Fields physics, which specifies
that the fields be continuous across the noncongruent meshes. For higher accuracy, the
model uses weak constraints and a smaller mesh size at these boundaries.
Solve the model in two steps. First, a stationary analysis of just the magnetic fields
computes the fields due to the magnet at its starting location. This is needed to provide
correct initial conditions for the subsequent transient analysis of the magnetic fields
and the moving mesh. The tolerances are tightened slightly from their defaults.
Results and Discussion
Figure 2 shows the magnetic field and the mesh after 0.2 s, slightly less than the period
of oscillation of the magnet, T = 0.25 s. The mesh is stretched and compressed in the
air domains above and below the magnet. Although the mesh is noncongruent at the
Identity Pair boundary, the Pair Continuity boundary condition ensures that the
solution is continuous.
Figure 3 displays the induced voltage for the open circuit configuration of the coil.
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Figure 2: Magnetic flux density and deformed mesh at the bottom of the stroke of the
magnet.
Figure 3: Induced voltage in the coil over time.
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Model Library path: ACDC_Module/Motors_and_Actuators/
induced_voltage_moving_magnet
Modeling Instructions
MO D E L WI Z A R D
1 Go to the Model Wizard window.
2 Click the 2D axisymmetric button.
3 Click Next.
4 In the Add physics tree, select AC/DC>Magnetic Fields (mf).
5 Click Add Selected.
6 In the Add physics tree, select Mathematics>Deformed Mesh>Moving Mesh (ale).
7 Click Add Selected.
8 Click Next.
9 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Preset Studies for Selected
Physics>Stationary.
10 Click Finish.
Define the frequency of a oscillating magnet.
G L O B A L D E F I N I T I O N S
Parameters
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Global Definitions and choose Parameters.
2 In the Parameters settings window, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
G E O ME T R Y 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 click Geometry 1.
2 In the Geometry settings window, locate the Units section.
Name Expression Description
f0 4[Hz] Frequency of an oscillating magnet
T0 1/f0 Time period of an oscillating magnet
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3 From the Length unit list, choose cm.
Follow these instructions to construct the model geometry.
Rectangle 1
1 Right-click Model 1>Geometry 1 and choose Rectangle.
2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section.
3 In the Height edit field, type 2.
4 Locate the Position section. In the z edit field, type -1.
5 Click the Build Selected button.
Rectangle 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 1 and choose Rectangle.
2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section.
3 In the Height edit field, type 8.
4 Locate the Position section. In the r edit field, type 1.1.
5 In the z edit field, type -4.
6 Click the Build Selected button.
7 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.
Rectangle 3
1 Right-click Geometry 1 and choose Rectangle.
2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section.
3 In the Height edit field, type 12.
4 Locate the Position section. In the z edit field, type -6.
5 Click the Build Selected button.
6 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.
Rectangle 4
1 Right-click Geometry 1 and choose Rectangle.
2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section.
3 In the Width edit field, type 3.
4 In the Height edit field, type 12.
5 Locate the Position section. In the r edit field, type 1.
6 In the z edit field, type -6.
7 Click the Build Selected button.
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Form a union of a Rectangle 1 and Rectangle 3.
Union 1
1 Right-click Geometry 1 and choose Boolean Operations>Union.
2 Select the objects r1 and r3 only.
3 Click the Build Selected button.
Next, form a union of a Rectangle 2 and Rectangle 4.
Union 2
1 Right-click Geometry 1 and choose Boolean Operations>Union.
2 Select the objects r4 and r2 only.
3 Click the Build Selected button.
Finish the geometry creation by using an assembly.
Form Union
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Geometry 1 click Form Union.
2 In the Finalize settings window, locate the Finalize section.
3 In the Relative repair tolerance edit field, type 1e-6.
4 From the Finalization method list, choose Form an assembly.
5 Click the Build Selected button.
The final geometry looks as shown in the figure above.
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D E F I N I T I O N S
Define boundary selections for the magnet and continuity pair.
Explicit 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Definitions and choose Selections>Explicit.
2 In the Explicit settings window, locate the Input Entities section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 Select Boundaries 3, 4, 6, and 9 only.
5 Right-click Model 1>Definitions>Explicit 1 and choose Rename.
6 Go to the Rename Explicit dialog box and type Magnet Boundaries in the New name
edit field.
7 Click OK.
Explicit 2
1 Right-click Definitions and choose Selections>Explicit.
2 In the Explicit settings window, locate the Input Entities section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 Select Boundaries 810 only.
5 Right-click Model 1>Definitions>Explicit 2 and choose Rename.
6 Go to the Rename Explicit dialog box and type Continuity Boundaries in the New
name edit field.
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7 Click OK.
Now, assign air for all the domains.
MA T E R I A L S
Material Browser
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Materials and choose Open
Material Browser.
2 In the Material Browser settings window, In the tree, select Built-In>Air.
3 In the Material_browser window, click Add Material to Model.
Now set up the physics for the magnetic field. Apply Ampres law in the magnet and
the air domain.
MA G N E T I C F I E L D S
Ampre's Law 2
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Magnetic Fields and choose
Ampre's Law.
2 Select Domain 2 only.
3 In the Ampre's Law settings window, locate the Magnetic Field section.
4 From the Constitutive relation list, choose Remanent flux density.
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5 In the B
r
table, enter the following settings:
Next, add the Multi-Turn Coil Domain feature to model the coil.
Multi-Turn Coil 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Magnetic Fields and choose Multi-Turn Coil.
2 Select Domain 5 only.
3 In the Multi-Turn Coil settings window, locate the Multi-Turn Coil section.
4 In the N edit field, type 800.
5 In the a
coil
edit field, type pi*(0.5[mm])^2.
6 In the I
coil
edit field, type 0.
7 In the Model Builder windows toolbar, click the Show button and select Advanced
Physics Options in the menu.
Add a continuity boundary condition and enable the weak constraints features.
Continuity 1
1 Right-click Magnetic Fields and choose Pairs>Continuity.
2 In the Continuity settings window, locate the Pair Selection section.
0 r
0 phi
1.2 z
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3 In the Pairs list, select Identity Pair 1.
4 Click to expand the Constraint Settings section. Select the Use weak constraints check
box.
Magnetic Insulation 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Continuity 1 node, then click Magnetic
Insulation 1.
2 In the Magnetic Insulation settings window, click to expand the Constraint Settings
section.
3 Select the Use weak constraints check box.
Use the Moving Mesh physics interface only in the domains left to the continuity pair.
MOV I N G ME S H
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 click Moving Mesh.
2 In the Moving Mesh settings window, locate the Domain Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Manual.
4 Select Domains 13 only.
Free Deformation 1
1 Right-click Model 1>Moving Mesh and choose Free Deformation.
2 Select Domains 13 only.
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Prescribed Mesh Displacement 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Moving Mesh and choose Prescribed Mesh
Displacement.
2 In the Model Builder window, click Prescribed Mesh Displacement 2.
3 In the Prescribed Mesh Displacement settings window, locate the Boundary Selection
section.
4 From the Selection list, choose Magnet Boundaries.
5 Locate the Prescribed Mesh Displacement section. In the d
z
edit field, type
30[mm]*sin(2*pi*f0*t).
Prescribed Mesh Displacement 3
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Moving Mesh and choose Prescribed Mesh
Displacement.
2 Select Boundaries 1, 5, 8, and 10 only.
3 In the Prescribed Mesh Displacement settings window, locate the Prescribed Mesh
Displacement section.
4 Clear the Prescribed z displacement check box.
ME S H 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 click Mesh 1.
2 In the Mesh settings window, locate the Mesh Settings section.
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3 From the Element size list, choose Fine.
Size 1
1 Right-click Model 1>Mesh 1 and choose Size.
2 In the Size settings window, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 From the Selection list, choose Continuity Boundaries.
5 Locate the Element Size section. Click the Custom button.
6 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. Select the Maximum element size check
box.
7 In the associated edit field, type 3[mm].
Free Triangular 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Mesh 1 and choose Free Triangular.
2 In the Settings window, click Build All.
The mesh should look like that shown in the figure below.
S T U D Y 1
Step 1: Stationary
Solve for the Magnetic Fields physics only in the stationary case.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Stationary.
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2 In the Stationary settings window, locate the Physics and Variables Selection section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Now, add the Time Dependent study step and solve the problem in the time domain.
The Time Dependent study automatically takes the initial values for the vector
potential from the stationary solution.
Step 2: Time Dependent
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Study Steps>Time
Dependent.
2 In the Time Dependent settings window, locate the Study Settings section.
3 In the Times edit field, type range(0,T0/100,T0).
4 Select the Relative tolerance check box.
5 In the associated edit field, type 0.0001.
6 Right-click Study 1 and choose Compute.
R E S U L T S
Magnetic Flux Density Norm (mf)
Use the following steps to generate a plot of the magnetic flux density norm and
deformed mesh as shown in Figure 2.
1 In the 2D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.
2 From the Time list, choose 0.2.
3 In the Model Builder window, right-click Magnetic Flux Density Norm (mf) and choose
Mesh.
4 In the Mesh settings window, locate the Color section.
5 From the Element color list, choose None.
6 From the Wireframe color list, choose White.
7 Click the Plot button.
Finally, reproduce the plot for an induced voltage in the coil.
1D Plot Group 3
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 Right-click 1D Plot Group 3 and choose Global.
Physics Solve for
Moving Mesh
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3 In the Global settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of
the y-Axis Data section. From the menu, choose Magnetic Fields>Coil parameters>Coil
voltage (mf.VCoil_1).
4 Click the Plot button.
5 In the Model Builder window, right-click 1D Plot Group 3 and choose Rename.
6 Go to the Rename 1D Plot Group dialog box and type Coil Induced Voltage in
the New name edit field.
7 Click OK.
Compare the plot with Figure 3.