Shape optimization of electromagnetic actuators

Shape optimization of the plunger of an electromagnetic actuator is carried out in order to obtain linear static characteristic of the device. The distribution of magnetic field in the system is modelled by a higher-order finite element technique using an effective implementation of the Newton method. The static characteristic of the device is determined by the Eggshell method. The shape optimization is performed by suitable genetic algorithms. The methodology is illustrated with an example whose results are discussed.