Altair® Flux® 2025 Release Highlights
Altair EmployeeLet’s have a look at the key features and improvements of Altair® Flux® and Altair® Flux® in Simlab® 2025
When designing electromechanical devices, often multiphysics analysis is required. Electromagnetic phenomena are obviously at the heart of the simulation needs, but those are also coupled with thermal, structural, vibrations and acoustics. Being able to model all physics and couple them in a single environment is definitely a must and a real time in the design time. This is one of the key advantages of using the SimLab environment wherein the Flux solver is being integrated. With version 2025, many improvements are brought that will let you perform multiphysics analysis of your electromechanical devices in a fast and easy way.
Parameterize and Optimize
Simulation is not only about modeling and understanding physical phenomena. It is used by designers to find ways of improving the performance of devices. Parameterization of models is then essential to search for the best configurations. The SimLab sketcher is a modern and easy-to-use tool to create parametric 2D geometries that can be used for any kind of electromagnetic analysis.. From there, performing parametric sweeps or execute Design of Experiment studies can be done in just a few cliks within the SimLab interface. When a geometric parameter value is changed, the geometry and the mesh are updated automatically during the process. And if you want to go further in the design search or perform optimization, you can export your model to Altair HyperStudy.
Parameterized sketches for automated multi-parametric analysis
One-Click Meshing !
The simulation speed and the accuracy of Finite Element models highly depend on the mesh. In order to reduce the time needed by a user to specify it, SimLab is proposing many automations. With just a few options to fill, the new “EM Mesh” tool allows to create automatically a mesh for your electromagnetic model. It will generate a matching mesh between parts, capture small features, follow the deviation of curved faces, and will gradually grow the element size in areas with no geometry constraints. With no effort, it leads to high quality elements while minimizing the global size of the mesh.
Automated mesh generation for EM simulation to effortlessly save time while keeping high accuracy results
Multiphysics made easy
How about having the electromagnetic model of your electric machine in the same simulation project as the CFD model for the cooling, so that you can easily establish a two-way coupling ? SimLab 2025 will let you do that ! The mapping of data between the two models, as well as the coupling can be defined through dedicated menus in a simple way. Iron and copper losses will serve as heat sources of the CFD model, and temperature-dependant material properties will account for the temperature impact on electromagnetic performance.
Defining a two-way coupling between magnetic and CFD simulations within the same SimLab project
In the new SimLab version, improvements have also been brought to vibro-acoustics performance evaluation of electric machines. You can now plot waterfall diagrams of e-Motor Run up by considering the Maxwell pressure on stator teeth and benefits from new post-processing functions. For example, you can set-up virtual microphones, which can be user-defined or automatically created according to the standards. A very practical way to compare simulation results and experimental measurements.
Losses and vibrations are intimately linked to the electric excitation of the motor and the PWM control parameters directly impact the temperature of the machine as well as the noise it generates. The coupling between SimLab and PSIM is now facilitated. Automated Reduced Order Model generation is available in SimLab for 3-phase PMSM machines to feed motor drive simulations. The current waveforms obtained in PSIM can be brought back and used as sources of transient electromagnetic simulations in SimLab.
Impact of PWM on temperatures and vibrations by coupling Flux and PSIM
Efficient Multiphysics Analysis Of Power Busbar
Specific solvers have been introduced in the latest versions to deal with power busbar simulation in a very efficient manner. Those methods avoid air meshing, considerably reducing the set-up and the solving time for AC analysis. Two main outputs of these computations are the losses in the conductors and the Laplace forces. Here too, establishing a multiphysics simulation by coupling the EM analysis with CFD or Structural models is pretty straightforward. From the losses, you can then get temperature maps and from the forces, stresses and deformations.
Iron Loss Models for Ferrites and Iron Powder Cores
Ferrites and iron powder cores are typically used in power electronics applications for inductors, transformers and EMI chokes. To accurately predict the losses in such devices, a new model is introduced in Flux, that can be easily fitted with manufacturers datasheets. It can be used in steady state AC magnetic applications.
An also :
- New Electrostatic 2D and axisymetrical solutions
- Improved 2D and axisymetrical magnetostatic workflows
- A periodicity definition preview in 2D
- The possibility to connect the circuit to thin regions in AC solutions
- An additionnal efficiency maps computation method in FeMT, based on magnetostatic tables with position dependance.
- The possibility to use the SimLab sketcher to generate a customized model for FluxMotor.
- To help you transitionning from the Flux UI to SimLab, an export/import process is being developed. A first version of those tools is now available.
- Many tutorials are available in Flux and SimLab documentation here
- You will also find videos and example on
Discover these improvements in more detail by looking at the Release Notes of Altair® Flux® 2025 :
You can also find the full documentation online:
Altair® Flux® and Altair® Simlab® can be downloaded on the Altair One Marketplace (with your account) here.
Enjoy Altair® Flux® 2025 version!
If you want to know more about Altair® FluxMotor® and its new features, look at the Release Notes.
Yann Le Floch - VP – Program Manager Flux®
Vincent Leconte - Senior Director Electrification Solutions