Siemens launches new axial flux motor design software

February 07, 2024

Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced its Simcenter E-Machine Design software.

This software is designed to assist electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and their supply chain in accurately predicting the performance of e-machines, including axial flux electric drive units. The software, part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, combines electromagnetic and thermal simulation to reduce reliance on physical prototyping and accelerate innovation in the EV industry.

Axial flux motors, known for their increased power density, can enhance the EV range. However, their compact size and complexity present challenges in heat dissipation and accommodating the required air gap. To address these challenges, many engineering departments are turning to advanced simulation to reduce development costs and time.

The Simcenter E-Machine Design software allows engineers to use parameterized templates and analytical modeling in the early stages of development. They can then continue working on their design in 3D with full Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations for more complex investigations, such as advanced thermal interactions.

The latest updates to Siemens’ Simcenter software also include a simplified electric vehicle powertrain development process, from motor design to Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH). Electromagnetic loads from the new Simcenter E-Machine Design software can be transferred to Simcenter 3D software for further acoustics and mechanical motion performance analysis.

The new smart virtual sensing capability allows test engineers to simulate the unmeasurable. This tool integrates simulation with physical testing, enabling physical test teams to position virtual sensors in critical areas where physical sensors cannot be placed due to location or complex geometry. This feature combines data from physical strain gauges with a reduced-order model to compute operational loading conditions.

Design space exploration is now fully integrated into Simcenter 3D, enabling the automation of design parameter modification, updating the simulation model, reviewing results, and iterating to explore design tradeoffs or achieve an optimal result.

For more information about the new Simcenter E-Machine Design solution and other updates delivered in the latest release of the Simcenter product family, visit: https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/simcenter/whats-new-in-simcenter-mechanical-simulation-2312.