Multi-Objective Optimization Design of Advanced Air Mobility Motors Using Multi-Physics Analysis

Research and development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has advanced significantly over the past decade. As electrification accelerates worldwide, propulsion systems are required to have higher performance, such as higher power density, higher efficiency, and lower noise. Since energy loss of component is influenced by temperature and physical properties of materials used in motors, a coupled analysis of the magnetic field and heat is necessary to avoid high temperature. In this study, a Halbach array motor was adopted to achieve high power density and high efficiency, the commercial software JMAG was used to estimate performance, and modeFRONTIER was employed to establish the design system. The multi-objective optimization design was carried out with bi-directionally-coupled analysis of magnetic field and heat transfer, and then structure, vibration and acoustic analyses were conducted for preferred solutions at the Parato front of design space. As a result, the optimization design was found as the tradeoff solution with suppression of temperature rising, and strength and vibration and noise were also confirmed.