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Numerical modelling of electromechanical coupling using fictitious domain and level set methods
Author(s) -
Andreykiv Andriy,
Rixen Daniel J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.421
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1097-0207
pISSN - 0029-5981
DOI - 10.1002/nme.2636
Subject(s) - heaviside step function , lagrange multiplier , conductor , finite element method , perfect conductor , fictitious domain method , mathematical analysis , eulerian path , boundary element method , electrical conductor , mathematics , domain (mathematical analysis) , engineering , physics , mathematical optimization , lagrangian , geometry , structural engineering , electrical engineering , optics , scattering
We present a finite element formulation for simulation of electromechanical coupling using a combination of fictitious domain and level set methods. The electric field is treated with a fixed (Eulerian‐like) mesh, whereas the structure (taken as a perfect conductor) is modelled with a conventional Lagrangian approach. The compatibility between the potential of the conductor and of the electric domain is obtained by introducing a Lagrange multiplier function, defined on the boundary of the conductor. The electromechanical forces are obtained using a variational formulation for the coupled electromechanical domain. We use a Heaviside function on the level set to remove the electric energy in the conductor domain. Results are presented for an radio frequency switch and an element of a comb drive. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.