Maxwell v15 4.

1
Field Calculator

Examples of the Field Calculator in Maxwell3D

The Field Calculator can be used for a variety of tasks, however its primary
use is to extend the post-processing capabilities within Maxwell beyond the
calculation / plotting of the main field quantities. The Field Calculator makes
it possible to operate with primary vector fields (such as H, B, J, etc) using
vector algebra and calculus operations in a way that is both mathematically
correct and meaningful from a Maxwell’s equations perspective.

The Field Calculator can also operate with geometry quantities for three
basic purposes:
- plot field quantities (or derived quantities) onto geometric entities;
- perform integration (line, surface, volume) of quantities over specified
geometric entities;
- export field results in a user specified box or at a user specified set of
locations (points).

Another important feature of the (field) calculator is that it can be fully script
driven. All operations that can be performed in the calculator have a
corresponding “image” in one or more lines of VBscript code. Scripts are
widely used for repetitive post-processing operations, for support purposes
and in cases where Optimetrics is used and post-processing scripts provide
some quantity required in the optimization / parameterization process.

This document describes the mechanics of the tools as well as the “softer”
side of it as well. So, apart from describing the structure of the interface this
document will show examples of how to use the calculator to perform many
of the post-processing operations encountered in practical, day to day
engineering activity using Maxwell. Examples are grouped according to the
type of solution. Keep in mind that most of the examples can be easily
transposed into similar operations performed with solutions of different
physical nature.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

ANSYS Maxwell Design Environment

The following features of the ANSYS Maxwell Design Environment are used to
interact with the calculator as covered in this topic
Analysis
Electrostatic
DC Conduction
Magnetostatic
Eddy Current
Transient
Results
Output Variables
Field Calculator
Field Overlays:
Named Expressions
Animate

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Description of the interface

The interface is shown in Fig. I1. It is structured such that it contains a stack
which holds the quantity of interest in stack registers. A number of operations
are intended to allow the user to manipulate the contents of the stack or
change the order of quantities being hold in stack registers. The description of
the functionality of the stack manipulation buttons (and of the corresponding
stack commands) is presented below:

- Push repeats the contents of the top stack register so that after the
operation the two top lines contain identical information;
- Pop deletes the last entry from the stack (deletes the top of the stack);
- RlDn (roll down) is a “circular” move that makes the contents of the stacks
slide down one line with the bottom of the stack advancing to the top;
- RlUp (roll up) is a “circular” move that makes the contents of the stacks
slide up one line with the top of the stack dropping to the bottom;
- Exch (exchange) produces an exchange between the contents of the two
top stack registers;
- Clear clears the entire contents of all stack registers;
- Undo reverses the result of the most recent operation.

The user should note that Undo operations could be nested up to the level
where a basic quantity is obtained.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Named Solution
Expressions Context

Stack & stack

registers

Stack
commands

Calculator
Buttons

Fig. I1 Field Calculator Interface

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

The calculator buttons are organized in five categories as follows:

- Input contains calculator buttons that allow the user to enter data in the stack;
sub-categories contain solution vector fields (B, H, J, etc.), geometry(point, line,
surface, volume, coordinate system), scalar, vector or complex constants
(depending on application) or even entire f.e.m. solutions.
- General contains general calculator operations that can be performed with
“general” data (scalar, vector or complex), if the operation makes sense; for
example if the top two entries on the stack are two vectors, one can perform the
addition (+) but not multiplication (*);indeed, with vectors one can perform a dot
product or a cross product but not a multiplication as it is possible with scalars.
- Scalar contains operations that can be performed on scalars; example of scalars
are scalar constants, scalar fields, mathematical operations performed on vector
which result in a scalar, components of vector fields (such as the X component of
a vector field), etc.
- Vector contains operations that can be performed on vectors only; example of
such operations are cross product (of two vectors), div, curl, etc.
- Output contains operations resulting in plots (2D / 3D), graphs, data export, data
evaluation, etc.

As a rule, calculator operations are allowed if they make sense from a mathematical
point of view. There are situations however where the contents of the top stack
registers should be in a certain order for the operation to produce the expected result.
The examples that follow will indicate the steps to be followed in order to obtain the
desired result in a number of frequently encountered operations. The examples are
grouped according to the type of solution (solver) used. They are typical medium/higher
level post-processing task that can be encountered in current engineering practice.
Throughout this manual it is assumed that the user has the basic skills of using the
Field Calculator for basic operations as explained in the on-line technical
documentation and/or during Ansoft basic training.

Note: The f.e.m. solution is always performed in the global (fixed) coordinate system.
The plots of vector quantities are therefore related to the global coordinate system and
will not change if a local coordinate system is defined with a different orientation from
the global coordinate system.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Electrostatic Examples
Example ES1: Calculate the charge density distribution and total
electric charge on the surface of an object
Description: Assume an electrostatic (3D) application with separate metallic
objects having applied voltages or floating voltages. The task is to calculate the
total electric charge on any of the objects.
Calculate/plot the charge density distribution on the object; the sequence of
calculator operations is described below:

Input > Quantity > D (load D vector into the calculator);

Input > Geometry
In Geometry window,
1. Select radio Button to Surface

2. Select the Surface of interest and Press OK

Vector > Unit Vec > Normal (creates the normal unit vector corresponding to the
surface of interest)
Vector > Dot (creates the dot product between D and the unit normal vector to
the surface of interest, equal to the surface charge density)
Add (input “charge_density” as the name) -> OK (creates a named expression
and adds it to the list)
Done (leaves calculator)
(select the surface of interest from the model)
Maxwell 3D > Fields > Fields > Named Expressions (a Selecting calculated
expression window appears)
(select “charge_density” from the list) -> OK (A Create Field Plot window
appears)
Done

Calculate the total electric charge on the surface of an object

Input > Quantity > D (load D vector into the calculator);
Input > Geometry > Surface… (select the surface of interest) -> OK
Vector > Normal
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example ES2: Calculate the Maxwell stress distribution on the

surface of an object
Description: Assume an electrostatic application (for ex. a parallel plate capacitor
structure). The surface of interest and adjacent region should have a fine finite
element mesh since the Maxwell stress method for calculation the force is quite
sensitive to mesh.
The Maxwell electric stress vector has the following expression for objects
without electrostrictive effects:

 
   1
TnE  D  n E  nE 2
2
where the unit vector n is the normal vector to the surface of interest. The
sequence of calculator commands necessary to implement the above formula is
given below.

Input > Quantity > D

Input > Geometry > Surface (select the surface of interest) > OK
Vector > Unit Vec > Normal (creates the normal unit vector corresponding to the
surface of interest)
Vector > Dot
Input > Quantity > E
General > * (multiply)
Input > Geometry > Surface… (select the surface of interest) > OK
Vector > Unit Vec > Normal (creates the normal unit vector corresponding to the
surface of interest)
Input > Number >Scalar (0.5) OK
General > *
Input > Constant > Epsi0
General > *
Input > Quantity > E
Push
Dot
General > *
General > - (minus)
Continued on next page.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example ES2: Continued

Add … (input “stress” as the name) > OK (creates a named expression and adds
it to the list)
Done (leaves calculator)
(select the surface of interest from the model)
Maxwell 3D > Fields > Fields > Named Expressions (a Selecting calculated
expression window appears)
(select “stress” from the list) > OK (A Create Field Plot window appears)
Done

If an integration of the Maxwell stress is to be performed over the surface of

interest, then use the Named Expression in the following calculator sequence:

(select “stress” from the Named Expressions list)

Copy to stack (inserts the named expression to the stack)
Input > Geometry > Surface (select surface of interest) > OK
Vector > Normal
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

Note: The surface in all the above calculator commands should lie in free space
or should coincide with the surface of an object surrounded by free space
(vacuum, air). It should also be noted that the above calculations hold true in
general for any instance where a volume distribution of force density is equivalent
to a surface
 distribution
 of stress (tension):
F   fdv   Tn dS
v 

where Tn is the local tension force acting along the normal direction to the
surface and F is the total force acting on object(s) inside .
The above results for the electrostatic case hold for magnetostatic applications if
the electric field quantities are replaced with corresponding magnetic quantities.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Current flow Examples

Example CF1: Calculate the resistance of a conduction path between
two terminals
Description: Assume a given conductor geometry that extends between two
terminals with applied DC currents.
In DC applications (static current flow) one frequent question is related to the
calculation of the resistance when one has the field solution to the conduction
(current flow) problem. The formula for the analytical calculation of the DC
resistance is:
ds
RDC  
C
 s   As 
where the integral is calculated along curve C (between the terminals) coinciding
with the “axis” of the conductor. Note that both conductivity and cross section
area are in general function of point (location along C). The above formula is not
easily implementable in the general case in the field calculator so that alternative
methods to calculate the resistance must be found.
One possible way is to calculate the resistance using the power loss in the
respective conductor due to a known conduction current passing through the
conductor.

P   J 
RDC  2 where power loss is given by P  V E  J dV    J dV
I DC V


The sequence of calculator commands to compute the power loss P is given

below:
Input > Quantity > J
Push
Input > Number > Scalar (1e7) OK (conductivity assumed to be 1e7 S/m)
General > / (divide)
Vector > Dot
Input > Geometry > Volume (select the volume of interest) > OK
Scalar > 
Output > Eval
The resistance can now be easily calculated from power and the square of the
current.
Continued on next page.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

There is another way to calculate the resistance which makes use of the well
known Ohm’s law.
U
RDC 
I
Assuming that the conductor is bounded by two terminals, T1 and T2 (current
through T1 and T2 must be the same), the resistance of the conductor (between
T1 and T2) is given the ratio of the voltage differential U between T1 and T2 and
the respective current, I . So it is necessary to define two points on the
respective terminals and then calculate the voltage at the two locations (voltage
is called Phi in the field calculator). The rest is simple as described above.

Example CF2: Export the field solution to a uniform grid

Description: Assume a conduction problem solved. It is desired to export the

field solution at locations belonging to a uniform grid to an ASCII file.
The field calculator allows the field solutions to be exported regardless of the
nature of the solution or the type of solver used to obtain the solution. It is
possible to export any quantity that can be evaluated in the field calculator.
Depending on the nature of the data being exported (scalar, vector, complex),
the structure of each line in the output file is going to be different. However,
regardless of what data is being exported, each line in the data section of the
output file contains the coordinates of the point (x, y, z) followed by the data
being exported (1 value for a scalar quantity, 2 values for a complex quantity, 3
values for a vector in 3D, 6 values for a complex vector in 3D)

Continued on next page.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

To export the current density vector to a grid the field calculator steps are:
Input > Quantity > J
Output > Export (then fill in the data as appropriate, see Fig. CF2)
OK

Fig. CF2 Define the size of the export region (box) and spacing within

Select Calculate grid points and define minimum, maximum & spacing in all 3
directions X, Y, Z as the size of the rectangular export region (box) and the
spacing between locations. By default the location of the ASCII file containing
the export data is in the project directory. Clicking on the browse symbol one
can also choose another location for the exported file.
Note: One can export the quantity calculated with the field calculator at user
specified locations by selecting Input grid points from file. In that case the ASCII
file containing on each line the x, y and z coordinates of the locations must exist
prior to initiating the export-to-file command.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example CF3: Calculate the conduction current in a branch of a

complex conduction path

Description: There are situations where the current splits along the conduction
path. If the nature of the problem is such that symmetry considerations cannot
be applied, it may be necessary to evaluate total current in 2 or more parallel
branches after the split point. To be able to perform the calculation described
above, it is necessary to have each parallel branch (where the current is to be
calculated) modeled as a separate solid.
Before the calculation process is started, make sure that the (local) coordinate
system is placed somewhere along the branch where the current is calculated,
preferably in a median location along that branch. In more general terms, that
location is where the integration is performed and it is advisable to choose it far
from areas where the current splits or changes direction, if possible.
Here is the process to be followed to perform the calculation using the field
calculator.

Input > Quantity > J

Input > Geometry > Volume (choose the volume of the branch of interest) OK
General > Domain (this is to limit the subsequent calculations to the branch of
interest only)
Input > Geometry > Surface > yz (choose axis plane that cuts perpendicular to
the branch) OK
Vector > Normal
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

The result of the evaluation is positive or negative depending on the general

orientation of the J vector versus the normal of the integration surface (S). In
mathematical terms the operation performed above can be expressed as:
 
I   J  n dS
S

Note: The integration surface (yz, in the example above) extends through the
whole region, however because of the “domain” command used previously, the
calculation is restricted only to the specified solid (that is the S surface is the
intersection between the specified solid and the integration plane).

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Magnetostatic examples
Example MS1: Calculate (check) the current in a conductor using
Ampere’s theorem

Description: Assume a magnetostatic problem where the magnetic field is

produced by a given distribution of currents in conductors. To calculate the
current in the conductor using Ampere’s theorem, a closed polyline (of arbitrary
shape) should be drawn around the respective conductor. In a mathematical
form the Ampere’s theorem is given by:
 
I S   H  ds


where  is the closed contour (polyline) and S is an open surface bounded by

 but otherwise of arbitrary shape. IS is the total current intercepting the surface
S.
To calculate the (closed) line integral of H, the sequence of field calculator
commands is:

Input > Quantity > H

Input > Geometry > Line (choose the closed polygonal line around the
conductor) OK
Vector > Tangent
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

The value should be reasonably close to the value of the corresponding current.
The match between the two can be used as a measure of the global accuracy of
the calculation in the general region where the closed line was placed.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example MS2: Calculate the magnetic flux through a surface

Description: Assume the case of a magnetostatic application. To calculate the

magnetic flux through an already existing surface the sequence of calculator
commands is:

Input > Quantity > B

Input > Geometry > Surface (specify the integration surface) OK
Vector > Normal
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

The result is positive or negative depending on the orientation of the B vector

with respect to the normal to the surface of integration.
The above operation corresponds to the following mathematical formula for the
magnetic flux:
 
 S   B  n dA
S

Example MS3: Calculate components of the Lorentz force

Description: Assume a distribution of magnetic field surrounding conductors with

applied DC currents. The calculation of the components of the Lorentz force has
the following steps in the field calculator.

Input > Quantity > J

Input > Quantity > B
Vector > Cross
Vector > Scal? > ScalarX
Input > Geometry > Volume (specify the volume of interest) OK
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

The above example shows the process for calculating the X component of the
Lorentz force. Similar steps should be performed for all components of interest.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example MS4: Calculate the distribution of relative permeability in

nonlinear material

Description: Assume a non-linear magnetostatic problem. To plot the relative

permeability distribution inside a non-linear material the following steps should
be taken:

Input > Quantity > B

Vector > Scal? > ScalarX
Input > Quantity > H
Vector > Scal? > ScalarX
Input > Constant > Mu0
General > * (multiply)
General > / (divide)
General > Smooth
Add (input “rel_perm” as the name)
OK (creates a named expression
and adds it to the list)
Done (leaves calculator)

(select the surface of interest from the model)

Maxwell 3D > Fields > Fields > Named Expressions (a Selecting calculated
expression window appears)
(select “rel_perm” from the list) > OK (a Create Field Plot window appears)
Done

Note: The above sequence of commands makes use of one single field
component (X component). Please note that any spatial component can be used
for the purpose of calculating relative permeability in isotropic, non-linear soft
magnetic materials. The result would still be the same if we used the Y
component or the Z component. However, this does not apply for anisotropic
materials. The “smoothing” also used in the sequence is also recommended
particularly in cases where the mesh density is not very high.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Frequency domain (AC) Examples

Example AC1: Calculate the radiation resistance of a circular loop

Description: Assume a circular loop of radius 0.02 m with an applied current

excitation at 1.5 GHz;
The radiation resistance is given by the following formula:

   1
 
Pav 1  * 1   *
Rr 
2  2 
Pav  Re E  H dS  Re    H  H dS
 j 0
2
I rms S S 
where S is the outer surface of the region (preferably spherical), placed
conveniently far away from the source of radiation.
Assuming that a half symmetry model is used, no ½ is needed in the above
formula. The sequence of calculator commands necessary for the calculation of
the average power is as follows:

Input > Quantity > H

Vector > Curl
Input > Number > Complex (0 , -12) OK
General > *
Input > Quantity > H
General > Complex > Conj
Vector > Cross
General > Complex > Real
Input > Geometry > Surface (select the surface of interest) > OK
Vector > Normal
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

Note: The integration surface above must be an open surface (radiation surface)
if a symmetry model is used. Surfaces of existing objects cannot be used since
they are always closed. Therefore the necessary integration surface must be
created in the example above using Modeler > Surface > Create Object From
Face command.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example AC2: Calculate/Plot the Poynting vector

Description: Same as in Example AC1.

To obtain the Poynting vector the following sequence of calculator commands is

necessary:

Input > Quantity > H

Vector > Curl
Input > Number > Complex (0 , -12) OK
General > *
Input > Quantity > H
General > Complex > Conj
Vector > Cross

To plot the real part of the Poynting vector the following commands
should be added to the above sequence:

General > Complex > Real

Input > Number > Scalar (0.5) OK
General > *
Add (input “Poynting” as the name) > OK (creates a named expression and
adds it to the list)
Done (leaves calculator)
(select the surface of interest from the model)
Maxwell 3D > Fields > Fields > Named Expressions (a Selecting calculated
expression window appears)
(select “Poynting” from the list) > OK (a Create Field Plot window appears)
Done

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example AC3: Calculate total induced current in a solid

Description: Consider (as example) the device in Fig. AC3.

a) full model b) quarter model

Fig. AC3 Geometry of inductor model

Assume that the induced current through the surface marked with an arrow in
the quarter model is to be calculated. Please note that there is an expected net
current flow through the market surface, due to the symmetry of the problem. As
a general recommendation, the surface that is going to be used in the process
of integrating the current density should exist prior to solving the problem. In
some cases this also means that the geometry needs to be created in such a
way so that the particular post-processing task is made possible. Once the
object containing the integration surface exists, use the Modeler > Surface >
Create Object From Face command to create the integration surface necessary
for the calculation. Make sure that the object with expected induced currents
has non-zero conductivity and that the eddy-effect calculation was turned on.

Assuming now that all of the above was taken care of, the sequence of
calculator commands necessary to obtain separately the real part and the
imaginary part of the induced current is described on the next page:

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

For the real part of the induced current:

Input > Quantity > J

General > Complex > Real
Input > Geometry > Surface (select previously defined integration surface) OK
Vector > Normal
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

For the imaginary part of the induced current:

Input > Quantity > J

General > Complex > Imag
Input > Geometry > Surface (select previously defined integration surface) OK
Vector > Normal
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

If instead of getting the real and imaginary part of the current , one desires to do
an “at phase” calculation, the sequence of commands is:

Input > Quantity > J

Input > Number > Scalar (45) OK (assuming a calculation at 45 degrees phase
angle)
General > Complex > AtPhase
Input > Geometry > Surface (select previously defined integration surface) OK
Vector > Normal
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example AC4: Calculate (ohmic) voltage drop along a conductive

path

Description: Assume the existence of a conductive path (a previously defined

open line totally contained inside a conductor). To calculate the real and
imaginary components of the ohmic voltage drop inside the conductor the
following steps should be followed:

For the real part of the voltage:

Input > Quantity > J

Vector > Matl > Conductivity > Divide OK
General > Complex > Real
Input > Geometry > Line > (select the applicable line) OK
Vector > Tangent
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

For the imaginary part of the voltage:

Input > Quantity > J

Vector > Matl > Conductivity > Divide OK
General > Complex > Imag
Input > Geometry > Line > (select the applicable line) OK
Vector > Tangent
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

To calculate the phase of the voltage manipulate the contents of the stack so
that the top register contains the real part of the voltage and the second register
of the stack contains the imaginary part. To calculate phase enter the following
command:

Scalar > Trig > Atan2

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example AC5: Calculate the AC resistance of a conductor

Description: Consider the existence of an AC application containing conductors

with significant skin effect. Assume also that the mesh density is appropriate for
the task, i.e. mesh has a layered structure with 1-2 layers per skin depth for 3-4
skin depths if the conductor allows it. Here is the sequence to follow in order to
calculate the total power dissipated in the conductor of interest.

Input > Quantity > OhmicLoss

Input > Geometry > Volume (specify volume of interest) OK
Scalar > 
Output > Eval
Note: To obtain the AC resistance the power obtained above must be divided
by the squared rms value of the current applied to the conductor. Note that in
the Boundary/Source Manager peak values are entered for sources, not rms
values.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Time Domain Examples

Example TD1: Plotting Transient Data

Description: Assume a time domain (transient application) requiring the display

of induced current as a function of time. Do this before solving if fields are not
saved at every step, or any time if fields are available.

Input > Quantity > J

Input > Geometry > Surface (enter the surface of interest) OK
Vector > Normal
Scalar > 
Add (input “Induced_Current” as the name) > OK (creates a named expression
and adds it to the list)
Done (leaves calculator)
Maxwell 3D > Results > Output Variables… (an Output Variables Dialogue
appears)
(select Fields from the Report Type pull down menu)
(select Calculator Expressions as the Category and “Induced_Current” as the
Quantity)
Insert Quantity Into Expression
(name your expression by writing “Ind_Cur” in the Name textbox)
Add (adds an output variable and its expression to the list)
Done

This Output Variable can be accessed two ways. First, it can be accessed
directly in the reports - make sure that the Reports Type is set to Fields (not
Transient). Second, it can be included in the Solve setup under the Output
Variables tab (which also makes it available in the reports with the Reports Type
set to Transient).

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example TD2: Find the maximum/minimum field value/location

Description: Consider a solved transient application. To find extreme field

values in a given volume and/or the respective locations follow these steps.

To get the value of the maximum magnetic flux density in a given volume:

Input > Quantity > B

Vector > Mag
Input > Geometry > Volume (enter volume of interest) OK
Scalar > Max > Value
Output > Eval

To get the location of the maximum:

Input > Quantity > B

Vector > Mag
Input > Geometry > Volume (enter volume of interest) OK
Scalar > Max > Position
Output > Eval

The process is very similar when searching for the minimum. Just replace the
Max with Min in the above sequences.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example TD3: Combine (by summation) the solutions from two time
steps

Description: Assume a linear model transient application. It is possible to add

the solution from different time steps if you follow these steps:

First, set the solution context to a certain time step, say t1 by selecting View >
Set Solution Context… and choosing an appropriate time from the list.

Then in the calculator:

Input > Quantity > B
Write (enter the name of the file) OK
Exit the calculator and choose a different time step, say t2.

Then, in the calculator:

Input > Quantity > B
Read (specify the name of the .reg file to be read in) OK
General > + (add)
Vector > Mag
Input > Geometry > Surface > (enter surface of interest) OK

Note 1: For this operation to succeed it is necessary that the respective meshes
are identical. This condition is of course satisfied in transient applications
without motion since they do not have adaptive meshing. It should be noted that
this capability can be used in other solutions sequences –say static- if the
meshes in the two models are identical.
The whole operation is numeric entirely, therefore the nature of the quantities
being “combined” is not checked from a physical significance point of view. It is
possible to add for example an H vector solution to a B vector solution. This
doesn’t have of course any physical significance, so the user is responsible for
the physical significance of the operation.
For the particular case of time domain applications it is possible to study the
“displacement” of the (vector) solution from one time step to another, study the
spatial orthogonality of two solution, etc. It is a very powerful capability that can
be used in many interesting ways.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example TD3: Continued

Note 2: As another example of using this capability please consider another

typical application: power flow in a given device.

As example one can consider the case of a cylindrical conductor above the
ground plane with 1 Amp current, the voltage with respect to the ground being
1000 V. As well known, one can solve separately the magnetostatic problem (in
which case the voltage is of no consequence, and only magnetic fields are
calculated) and the electrostatic problem (in which case only the electric fields
are calculated). With Maxwell it is possible to “combine” the two results in the
post-processing phase if the assumption that the electric and magnetic fields
are totally separated and do not influence each other. One possible reason that
such an operation is meaningful from a physical point of view might be the need
for an analysis of power flow.
Assume that a magnetostatic and electrostatic problem are created with
identical geometries. Link the mesh from one simulation to the mesh of the
other, so that they will be identical – this can be accomplished in the Setup tab of
the Analysis Setup properties. Select the Import mesh box, and clicking on the
Setup Link … button. Then specify the target Design and Solution in the Setup
Link dialog. To assure that the mesh is identical in both the linked solution and
the target solution, make sure to set the Maximum Number of Passes to one (1)
in the linked solution.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example TD3: Continued

Solve both these models and access the electrostatic results. Export the
electric field solution as follows:

Input > Quantity > E

Output > Write… (enter the name of the .reg file to contain the solution) OK

Access now the solution of the magnetostatic problem and perform the following
operations with the calculator after placing the coordinate system in the median
plane of the conductor (yz plane if the conductor is oriented along x axis):

Input > Read (specify the name of the file containing electrostatic E field) OK
Input > Quantity > H
Vector > Cross
Input > Geometry > Volume > background > OK
General > Domain
Input > Geometry > Surface > yz
Vector > Normal
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

A result around 1000 W should be obtained, corresponding to 1000 W of power

being transferred along the wire but NOT THROUGH THE WIRE! Indeed the
power is transmitted through the air around the wire (the Poynting vector has
higher values closer to the wire and decays in a radial direction). The wire here
only has the role of GUIDING the power transfer! The wire absorbs from the
electromagnetic field only the power corresponding to the conduction losses in
the wire.
When the integration of the Poynting vector was performed above, a domain
operation was also performed limiting the result to the background only. This
shows clearly that the distribution of the Poynting vector in the background is
responsible for the power transfer. Displaying the Poynting vector in different
transversal planes to the wire shows also the direction of the power transfer.
This type of analysis can be very useful in studying the power transfer in
complex devices.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Example TD4: Create an animation from saved field solutions

Description: Assume a solved time domain application. To create an animation

file of a certain field quantity extracted from the saved field solution (say
magnitude of conduction current density J) proceed as described below.

(select surface of interest)

Maxwell 3D > Fields > Fields > J > Mag_J
Done
Maxwell 3D > Fields > Animate … (a Setup Animation dialogue appears)
(select desired time steps from those available in the list)
Done

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›

Maxwell v15 4.1
Field Calculator

Miscellaneous Examples
Example M1: Calculation of volumes and areas

To calculate the volume of an object here is the sequence of calculator

commands:

Input > Number > Scalar (1) OK (enters the scalar value of 1)
Input > Geometry > Volume (enter the volume of interest) OK
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

The result is expressed in m3.

To calculate the area of a surface here is the sequence of calculator commands:

Input > Number > Scalar (1) OK (enters the scalar value of 1)
Input > Geometry > Surface (enter the surface of interest) OK
Scalar > 
Output > Eval

The result is expressed in m2.

ANSYS Maxwell 3D Field Simulator v15 User’s Guide 4.1-‹#›