Optimization of permanent magnet type of retarder using 3-D finite element method(Selected Papers From the 11th Conference on the Computation of Electromagnetic Fields (COMPUMAG '97))

3-D optimization method using the combined experimental design method and direct search method is developed to apply to the optimal design of a permanent magnet type of retarder. It is shown that the braking torque is increased by using the optimization method. The CPU time can be considerably reduced by utilizing the initial values obtained by the experimental design method. Index terms - Optimization, finite element method, direct search method, retarder, eddy current