Electromagneto-elasticity in the eddy current approximation and its numerical implementation in the open-source finite element program FEniCSx
摘要
This paper presents a numerical implementation of a continuum theory of electromagneto-elasticity under the eddy-current approximation of Maxwell’s equations. The resulting framework describes the dynamic response of deformable conducting solids subjected to low-frequency electromagnetic excitation, where induced eddy currents and Lorentz forces significantly influence motion. The referential form of the theory is summarized and the constitutive equations are derived from a thermodynamically consistent free-energy imbalance, leading to governing field equations and constitutive equations that coherently couple mechanics and electromagnetism. A monolithic numerical implementation is realized in the open-source finite-element platform FEniCSx, with implicit time integration ensuring stability for dynamic analyses. Within the solid-mechanics literature on coupled electromagneto-elasticity, fully dynamic formulations that explicitly include induced eddy currents in deforming conductors and retain inertial effects are comparatively rare. Validation against two classical benchmark problems—the dynamic damped bending response of a conducting cantilever and the electromagnetic levitation of a conducting plate — shows excellent agreement with existing experimental data. The results demonstrate that the proposed framework provides a robust and extensible basis for modeling magneto-mechanical actuation, damping, and levitation phenomena.