| Abstract: | Layout optimization with ON/OFF information of magnetic material in finite elements is one of the most attractive tools in the initial conceptual and practical design of electrical machinery for engineers. Heuristic algorithms based on random search allow engineers to define general‐purpose objects. However, there are many iterations of finite element analysis, and it is difficult to achieve a practical solution without island and void distribution by using a direct search method, such as simulated annealing (SA), genetic algorithm (GA), and so on. This paper presents a layout optimization method based on GA. The proposed method can arrive at a practical solution by means of multistep utilization of the GA, and the convergence speed is considerably improved by using it in combination with reduction of the design space. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 181(3): 19‐30, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.22290 |
