Prediction of acoustic noise and vibration of a 24/16 traction switched reluctance machine

This study presents a numerical modelling approach for the prediction of vibration and acoustic noise for a 24/16 traction switched reluctance machine (SRM). The numerical modelling includes the simulation of electromagnetic force in JMAG, the calculation of natural frequencies and the simulation of vibration and acoustic noise in ACTRAN. Considerations in the modelling of geometries, meshing and contacts of the 24/16 SRM are discussed to ensure the accuracy of the numerical simulation. Two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (FFT) is applied to the radial nodal force at the stator pole tip to analyse the dominant harmonics. FFT is also applied to the simulated surface displacement of the housing and the sound pressure at 2000 rpm to analyse their dominant frequency components. The dominant harmonics for the vibration and acoustic noise at 2000 rpm are confirmed. The numerical modelling method presented in this study can also be applied to the other SRMs and electric machines to predict the vibration behaviour and the radiated acoustic noise.